(Toronto) Less than two months ago, the Raptors made their comeback in Toronto, 600 days after they last played at home.
The Wizards prevailed on Oct. 20, but the Raptors were excited to return home, having had Tampa as their home for an entire season.
A packed house of 19,800 spectators welcomed their return.
However, the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in Ontario made it feel a bit like Groundhog Day Thursday.
The Ontario government has halved the crowds at events, starting with Saturday’s game between the Raptors and the Warriors.
“I’m trying to be optimistic about this,” guard Fred VanVleet said in a video conference Thursday.
“It’s a bit bittersweet. We had the chance to have supporters again, to get back to what it was like a bit, but of course health and safety must be put first. ”
Head Coach Nick Nurse admitted the feeling of sliding backwards is frustrating, but the team recognizes what comes first.
“Anyone can see the logic and I’m like anyone. Everyone goes through a time where we feel disappointed because we want things to stay the way they are or to improve, and that just isn’t the case right now, ”noted Nurse.
“Common sense must always prevail […] and we have to adjust our way of thinking a bit. It may take a while to absorb.
“Hopefully we’ve learned some lessons about staying focused and keeping working, while remaining vigilant. At the professional level, we must continue to offer the best of ourselves. ”
At the turn of February and March last season, an outbreak of the virus sidelined several Raptors players and coaches. The club fell heavily in the standings and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
This season, President Masai Ujiri contracted COVID-19 and Precious Achiuwa missed four games as he is considered a close contact of a case of the virus, in a separate case.
Toronto was scheduled to host Chicago on Thursday, but that was pushed back as 10 Bulls players are unavailable due to protocol.
The Nets had just eight players at home on Tuesday, still winning 131-129 in overtime against the Raptors.
Seven Nets players remain on the sidelines for the Sixers’ visit on Thursday night.
The Knicks have four players on the sidelines in connection with the protocol, including the Canadian RJ Barrett.
The NBA and the NBPA are said to be in discussions to make this protocol more robust, in connection with the rise in cases of the coronavirus.
Achiuwa, OG Anunoby (hip) and Khem Birch (knee) resumed training. Anunoby missed 13 games, he who was the best scorer of his own when it came to injury. Birch missed 10 games.