Toronto Raptors
FILE - Nigeria players walk off the court after their loss in the women's basketball preliminary round game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Aug. 2, 2021, in Saitama, Japan. FIBA-Nigeria, basketball's world governing body, confirmed Thursday, June 2, 2022, that Nigeria has withdrawn its team from the women's World Cup and warned of "potential disciplinary measures" against the country because of government interference. Nigeria's government announced last month that it was withdrawing all its basketball teams from international competitions for two years while it completely restructures the sport. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
Udoka, Ujiri angry over Nigerian basketball dysfunction

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 05, 2022 07:48 PM EDT

FILE - Canada's coach Nick Nurse gestures during a Group H match against Lithuania at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in Dongguan in south China's Guangdong province, in this Sept. 3, 2019, file photo. Toronto coach Nick Nurse is an American. Born in Iowa. Owns a home in Florida. A lifetime fan of the Chicago Cubs. He also carries Canada’s Olympic hopes. (AP Photo/File)
Last chance for Tokyo: Final 4 Olympic hoop qualifiers begin

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 28, 2021 01:43 PM EDT

File-This Oct. 4, 2020, file photo shows NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaking during an interview before the NBA Finals in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The NBA has informed teams that it intends to return to a normal schedule next season, with training camps opening in late September and the regular season set to begin on Oct. 19., 2021. It is not an unexpected development, and Silver has said several times that the league’s intention for the past several months, virus-permitting, was to get the league back onto its regular calendar after two seasons of schedule havoc because of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Back to normal? NBA plans to start '21-22 season in October

By Tim Reynolds Jun. 10, 2021 04:18 PM EDT

Toronto Raptors fans sits with cardboard cutouts of fans during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Hoping for home: Raptors thank Tampa, but clamor for Toronto

By Tim Reynolds May. 17, 2021 05:00 PM EDT

Indiana Pacers forward Doug McDermott (20) puts up a shot between Toronto Raptors center Aron Baynes (46) and forward Stanley Johnson (5) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Brissett has career-high 31 as Pacers beat Raptors 125-113

By John Denton May. 16, 2021 03:35 PM EDT

Utah Jazz guard Joe Ingles (2) waves to the crowd following the team's NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, April 16, 2021, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
NBA home-court win percentage this season will be worst ever

By Tim Reynolds May. 14, 2021 10:27 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James dribble the ball during the first half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings on Friday, April 30, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
James out, Schröder enters virus protocol for reeling Lakers

By Joe Reedy May. 03, 2021 09:23 PM EDT

Orlando Magic's Gary Harris (14) drives past Cleveland Cavaliers' Kevin Love during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, April 28, 2021 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Phil Long)
Magic squander 23-point lead in fourth, beat Cavs 109-104

Brian Dulik Apr. 28, 2021 09:54 PM EDT

Cleveland Cavaliers' Collin Sexton (2) drives between Toronto Raptors' Yuta Watanabe (18) and Chris Boucher (25) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, April 10, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Trent scores career-high 44, Raptors rout Cavaliers 135-115

By Brian Dulik Apr. 10, 2021 10:10 PM EDT

Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan yells during the second half of the team's NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, April 8, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
LaVine, Vucevic lead Bulls past Raptors, 122-113

By Dick Scanlon Apr. 08, 2021 10:46 PM EDT

Los Angeles Lakers guard Talen Horton-Tucker (5) goes for a layup in front of Toronto Raptors guard Malachi Flynn (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Lakers build big early lead, cruise past Raptors 110-101

By Dick Scanlon Apr. 06, 2021 10:28 PM EDT

Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo (7) shoots as Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart (28) defends during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, March 19, 2021, in Houston. (Troy Taromina/Pool Photo via AP)
Trade deadline passes, and Kyle Lowry remains with Raptors

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 25, 2021 03:44 PM EDT

Toronto Raptors guard Norman Powell, left, drives to the basket against Chicago Bulls forward Lauri Markkanen during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Raptors' Fred VanVleet details his COVID-19 experience

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 16, 2021 09:14 PM EDT

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry, right, shoots against Chicago Bulls forward Thaddeus Young during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Chicago, Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Analysis: Even the NBA trade deadline has a different feel

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 16, 2021 02:20 AM EDT

Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) shoots against Washington Wizards center Moritz Wagner, left, during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 4, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Kawhi and Popovich reunited? Leonard wants to go to Olympics

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 07, 2021 02:52 PM EST

Toronto Raptors assistant coach Sergio Scariolo talks to center Aron Baynes (46) during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Scariolo is filling in for head coach Nick Nurse, who is under coronavirus protocol. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Raptors will be short-handed when they return to floor

By Tim Reynolds Mar. 02, 2021 07:38 PM EST

Toronto Raptors assistant coach Sergio Scariolo calls a play during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. Scariolo is filling in for head coach Nick Nurse, who is missing the game due to coronavirus protocol. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Raptors' virus issues worsen, game vs. Bulls called off

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 28, 2021 11:07 AM EST

Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse talks to players during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Virus sidelines Raptors coaches, Siakam for Rockets game

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 26, 2021 02:25 PM EST

Toronto Raptors head coach Nick Nurse calls a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Raptors to keep calling Tampa home for rest of season

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 11, 2021 11:17 AM EST

Fans watch during the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Miami Heat and the Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Miami. The Miami Heat allowed a limited number of fans to attend the game. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)
In the NBA, there's not much home-court advantage these days

By Tim Reynolds Feb. 02, 2021 02:50 AM EST