NBA: 76ers coach Nick Nurse leaves team to attend brother's funeral

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse was with his family on Tuesday following the funeral of his brother but is expected to return to the team before Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series on Wednesday night.

Steve Nurse, Nick Nurse’s older brother and a longtime equipment manager at the University of Northern Iowa, died unexpectedly last week at the age of 62. A funeral service was held Tuesday in Ankeny, Iowa. Nick Nurse played college basketball at Northern Iowa from 1985 to 1989.

The 76ers did not hold a practice on Tuesday but gathered as a team on Monday to review film from their Game 1 loss.

Philadelphia suffered a 137-98 defeat against the New York Knicks on Monday night at Madison Square Garden, falling behind in the best-of-seven series. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night in New York.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown offered condolences to Nurse and his family on Tuesday, saying he was keeping them in his thoughts during a difficult time.

“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,” Brown said.

Steve Nurse’s passing came just one day before Game 6 of Philadelphia’s first-round series against the Boston Celtics. The 76ers went on to win the final two games of that series to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

-Field Level Media/Reuters