Nick Nurse Articles - Page 12

The Toronto Raptors beat the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 despite a below-average performance from Kawhi Leonard. The most dominant individual force of the playoffs was more set-up man than primary scorer on Thursday night, and never got comfortable shooting from mid-range. It speaks volumes of Leonard’s ability that he proved so integral to […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is the first former NBA G League coach to lead a team to the NBA Finals. HoopsHype NBA writer Alex Kennedy tweeted the fact on May 29. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is the first former @nbagleague coach to lead a team to the NBA Finals. Nurse is also […]

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green recently claimed that he’s the best defender in the history of the NBA. Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse didn’t really disagree with him, but said that Kawhi Leonard should also be in the discussion for the title that Draymond gave himself. “I would say both of those guys […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is the leading candidate to coach the Canadian national basketball team at the FIBA World Championships in China from August 31 to September 15, 2019, according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. Raptors coach Nick Nurse, fresh off taking Toronto to its first NBA Finals in his […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is expecting an all-out war in Game 6 of their Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors have won the last three games against the Bucks and are now leading 3-2, all after trailing 0-2 to start the series. However, Nurse knows the difficulty of closing out […]

After pulling off an upset of the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Conference Finals, head coach Nick Nurse and the Toronto Raptors hope to close out the series in Game 6 in the friendly confines of Scotiabank Arena. Nurse assured fans that he will be coaching Game 6 like it is an elimination […]

After a big Game 5 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse revealed that Kawhi Leonard wanted the ball to make plays down the stretch. In the postgame press conference, Nurse observed that Kawhi Leonard seemed to get stronger as the fourth quarter went on. He also wanted the ball and […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse thinks superstar small forward Kawhi Leonard is fresher for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. Leonard has been dealing with an apparent left leg injury over the past two games. The Raptors won Games 3 and 4 up in Toronto to even up the […]

Kawhi Leonard’s lingering leg injury is one the Toronto Raptors have expressed some concern for, as he was seen limping his way to a Game 3 overtime win and favoring his right leg during Game 4 of the series. However, coach Nick Nurse stood firm with his take that the superstar forward is fine to […]

The Toronto Raptors won Games 3 and 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals with Kawhi Leonard laboring. Now, as this series shifts back to the Milwaukee Bucks’ home court for the first of a best-of-three, comes news that the Raptors’ second-best player is experiencing major discomfort, too. On Wednesday, Nick Nurse elaborated on the extent […]

Scotiabank Arena was absolutely rocking on Tuesday night. Fueled by lingering excitement of their team’s stunning double-overtime win 48 hours earlier, Toronto Raptors fans were loud from the opening tip to the final buzzer of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, another Toronto victory over the Milwaukee Bucks that evened this series at two […]

Toronto Raptors All-Star Kawhi Leonard was experiencing pain in both legs during Tuesday night’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. Though he had a noticeable hobble in his gait at times, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse believes Leonard will be fine going forward: “Yeah, we were concerned,” Nurse said after Tuesday’s […]

The Toronto Raptors managed to secure a much-needed win in Game 4 against the Milwaukee Bucks, and head coach Nick Nurse and Drake could not help but share their excitement. The Raptors managed to swing the momentum in their favor and began building on their lead early in the fourth quarter. Drake even made sure […]

Toronto Raptors shooting guard Danny Green appreciates head coach Nick Nurse for trusting him in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Nurse ran a play for Green in the second overtime and Green delivered by hitting a clutch 3-pointer. The Raptors guard was 0-for-8 at the time, so […]

The Toronto Raptors finally won a game in the Eastern Conference Finals on Sunday, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 118-112 in a double-overtime thriller in Game 3 behind another stellar performance from Kawhi Leonard. The All-Star forward finished with 36 points, nine rebounds, five assists and two steals while playing a total of 52 minutes — […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse praised Kawhi Leonard’s defense on Milwaukee Bucks star player Giannis Antetokounmpo, noting that it was the biggest key in their Game 3 victory. Per NBA TV, Nurse was asked about Leonard’s defense on Antetokounmpo — this year’s leading MVP candidate. Nurse believes that the Raptors forward’s defense was key […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse surprised everyone at the start of Game 3 as he kept his starters from Games 1 and 2. After all, he directly said heading into the contest that he will make plenty of lineup changes to prepare for the Milwaukee Bucks. Nurse, however, clarified his comments after the match […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is hinting a potential lineup change in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors are still looking for their first victory of the series, and a loss this Sunday will put them on the brink of elimination. Nurse is looking to make the […]

The Toronto Raptors find themselves in a 0-2 hole against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals — and in desperate need of some adjustments. Head coach Nick Nurse indicated that some of those changes will come early in the hopes of finding more favorable matchups on both the offensive and defensive side of […]

Despite falling 0-2 against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse believes that a victory in Game 3 could help change the outcome of the series. The odds are stacked against the Raptors coming back from a two-to-nothing deficit, but Nurse said he doesn’t care about the statistics […]

The Toronto Raptors are in a must-win situation after losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Bucks. Heading into Game 3, head coach Nick Nurse hinted at possible lineup changes as the team attempts to fight their way back into the series. According to Arden Zwelling of SportsNet Canada, […]

Over seven months into the 2018-19 season, with the glare off the Larry O’Brien Trophy growing stronger by the day, one would assume Nick Nurse wouldn’t have to beg his team to play with more physicality. After the Toronto Raptors were blown out by the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, […]

Despite the loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick nurse hailed Kyle Lowry’s performance. Per NBA TV in a postgame conference, Nurse was confident that every shot that Lowry took would swish the net. “Every time he let it go tonight, you were like […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse wants his team to distribute shots better against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals. At times, the Raptors rely too much on star small forward Kawhi Leonard to carry them on offense. Nurse says while Leonard is an all-world player, Toronto needs to get other guys involved […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse expresses his belief on his team ahead of their Eastern Conference Finals showdown against the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks. The Raptors are coming off a second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers that took seven games to decide. Meanwhile, the Bucks are well-rested ahead of the East finale after closing out […]

The Toronto Raptors have advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll square off against the Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Most analysts are expecting a physical series, and Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says his guys will be ready for it. In an interview with William Lou of Yahoo Sports Canada, Nurse pointed […]

After clinching the series against the Philadelphia 76ers in a thrilling Game 7 win, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse praised Kawhi Leonard and noted that he’s always locked into the game. In his postgame presser, Nurse shared his thoughts on Leonard’s approach to the game and his buzzer-beating game winner. From his observation, Leonard […]

With their season on the line, Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse has announced there will be no minute caps for his players when Toronto faces the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Nurse says minute caps are off the table tomorrow, likely for both teams. "I would expect the best […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says the Philadelphia 76ers are a very talented team and that this second round matchup will ultimately help the Raptors grow as a unit. The Raptors and Sixers play Game 7 of their second round series on Sunday. Toronto fought all season to get the No. 2 seed in […]

The Toronto Raptors have been an inconsistent team in the playoffs so far, but head coach Nick Nurse is playing it down and is not one bit bothered about the concern. Toronto is currently tied with the Philadelphia 76ers at 3-3 in their Eastern Conference Semifinals showdown. Both teams won one game on the road […]

Last week, the Philadelphia 76ers seemed on the verge of taking complete control of their second-round series against the Toronto Raptors. Brett Brown’s team put together perhaps its most complete performance of the entire 2018-19 season in Game 3, beating Toronto 116-95 to take what many believed was a commanding 2-1 lead in the Eastern […]

Nick Nurse chased an improbable win in Game 6. He is lucky no key starter got injured before Game 7. The Toronto Raptors got drubbed by the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night by the final score of 112-101, with Joel Embiid of the 76ers posting a masterful +40 rating in the game. The Raptors just […]

Though he’s not on the team’s official injury report anymore, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam has been dealing with a touch of calf soreness. The ailment was an issue in Sunday’s series-tying victory over the Sixers, but Raptors head coach Nick Nurse is expecting Siakam to play a bigger role in Game 5. Siakim noted […]

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is one of the most respected coaches in the league, if not the most. Under his tutelage, several coaches have blossomed and become great head coaches themselves. Doc Rivers, Mike Budenholzer, and Brett Brown all worked under Popovich. Pop is known for his championship pedigree and milking the […]

After blowing out the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 1, the Toronto Raptors seemed well on their way to a berth in the Conference Finals. Less than a week later, though, Nick Nurse’s team suddenly finds itself in a 2-1 hole, one made deeper than it seems given the injury status of one of its best […]

Joel Embiid, the Philadelphia 76ers’ injury-prone center, has been a thorn in the side of Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse, who now finds his team trailing 2-1 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The 7-foot Goliath had his best game of the series with 33 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and five blocks, showing the […]

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse wasn’t happy with his team’s energy and effort in a Game 3 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on the road. The 116-95 loss was the biggest differential in this Eastern Conference Semifinal series thus far, and one that came with plenty of disappointments in all facets of the game. […]

Throughout the regular season, the Toronto Raptors grew accustomed to overwhelming opponents with size and athleticism. Nick Nurse’s team is one of the longest in the league, and with Kawhi Leonard and Pascal Siakam, can count on a pair of overwhelming physical mismatches almost every time it takes the floor. The Philadelphia 76ers, though, aren’t […]

Toronto Raptors center Marc Gasol is only averaging 7.9 points per game in the playoffs. Raptors head coach Nick Nurse says Gasol is too talented of a player to not score more than that. The Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers are tied at 1-1 in the second round. For Toronto to defeat this talented Sixers squad, […]