The Toronto Raptors own a 2-1 series lead over the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals heading into Game 4 after picking up a big victory on the road on Wednesday night.

As soon as the final buzzer sounded, Raptors head coach Nick Nurse appeared hunched over and emotional in his chair on the sidelines. During Thursday’s media day, Nurse spoke about that moment and said during that time he was thinking about his mother, Marcella, who passed away in December and would have turned 95 on Tuesday.
 

 

Nick Nurse's mom passed away in December, Game 3 would have been her 95th birthday.

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The Raptors’ head coach shared some great memories about his mother that helped him get to where he is today while discussing that emotional moment and admit that she was on his mind a little more after the game considering the timing.

Marcella Nurse passed away Monday, December 10, 2018, before the Raptors’ west coast road trip, which included stops in Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland and Denver, but the head coach was on the bench with his team in LA and Oakland because he said his mother “wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Marcella was 94-years-old.