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

Head coach Nick Nurse was with his family on Tuesday but is expected to be back with the Philadelphia 76ers before Game 2 on Wednesday night following his brother's funeral.

Steve Nurse died last Wednesday at age 62 and a funeral service following his unexpected passing was scheduled for Tuesday in Ankeny, Iowa. Steve Nurse was Nick Nurse's older brother and was the longtime equipment manager at the University of Northern Iowa, where Nick Nurse played basketball from 1985-1989.

Philadelphia did not practice Tuesday but met as a team to go over film on Monday's loss.

The 76ers were on the losing end of a 137-98 blowout against the Knicks in Game 1 on Monday night. The second game of the Eastern Conference semifinals is Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Knicks head coach Mike Brown said Tuesday afternoon he was keeping Nurse and his family in his thoughts.

"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 sudden death occurred last week, one day prior to Game 6 of the 76ers first-round series with the Celtics. Philadelphia won the final two games of the series to oust Boston and advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals.

--Field Level Media