Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse temporarily stepped away from his coaching duties Tuesday to honor his late brother at funeral services in Iowa, missing team activities during the franchise’s playoff run.
The coach’s brother, Steve Nurse, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday at age 62. Following Philadelphia’s disappointing 137-98 defeat in Monday’s playoff opener against New York, Nick Nurse departed for memorial services held Tuesday in Ankeny, Iowa.
The 76ers organization anticipates their head coach will return to lead the team for Wednesday evening’s second playoff matchup at Madison Square Garden.
New York’s coaching staff extended their sympathies during Tuesday’s media availability at the team’s training facility in Greenburgh. “I’d like to pass my condolences along to Nick Nurse and his family, his brother’s family and all their friends,” Knicks coach Mike Brown said. “Life is precious and you don’t wish that upon anybody, so I’d like to pass along my condolences to him and his family while they’re going through these times.”
