TAMPA, FLA. -- Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse says a COVID-19 outbreak in March spiked his team's chances for a post-season run.
The Raptors (27-45) finished 12th in the Eastern Conference to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
They were in the thick of the post-season race before a COVID-19 outbreak sidelined numerous key players plus much of the coaching staff in March, and saw them win just one game that month.
Nurse faces a busy off-season, including at least three weeks as head coach of Canada's men's national team.
Canada must win a last-chance qualifying tournament next month in Victoria to earn a berth in the Tokyo Olympics.
Two key off-season question marks are the futures of veteran guard Kyle Lowry and team president Masai Ujiri.
Nurse says he hopes Ujiri stays, saying "we make a good team."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 17, 2021.
