76ers' Nurse: Departure from Raptors was best for both sides

Ahead of his team's 114-107 victory on Saturday night, Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse admitted his exit from the Toronto Raptors this offseason was a mutually beneficial decision.

"It felt like it was time from both sides. It still feels that way to me, just looking around. I look at them play, and they look like they're playing great, and I'm really enjoying coaching this team," Nurse told reporters, including TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "So everybody is where they're supposed to be."

Nurse was fired in April after the Raptors failed to make the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. He was the head man for five years, notably winning the franchise's first NBA championship in 2019, his first campaign leading Toronto's bench.

The Raptors chose Memphis Grizzlies assistant Darko Rajakovic to take Nurse's place.

On Saturday, though, it was Nurse's group who had the last laugh. Rising star Tyrese Maxey and reigning MVP Joel Embiid each contributed 34 points for the 76ers, who are expected to contend at the top of the Eastern Conference this season.

Now watching from afar, Nurse was complimentary of the style his replacement has in place.

"They look good to me. It's a new coach, a new system, and they're going to need some growth time," Nurse said. "But I think, in general, they seem like they're playing really hard, they're playing really well together. They seem really focused, and they're doing a lot of good things."

Nurse was on the opposite sideline in Toronto on Saturday night for just his second regular-season game with the 76ers. Philadelphia dropped its opener to the Milwaukee Bucks 118-117.