On Thursday Sergio Scariolo was in his hotel room preparing for the next day's game when a message changed his plans: six members of the Toronto Raptors coaching staff, including

Nick Nurse

, had entered quarantine, so he would be the head coach. .

And so, unexpectedly, his NBA debut finally arrived.

The Italian, a few weeks after turning 60, debuted with a victory over the Houston Rockets (122-111).

Scariolo didn't even have time to enjoy it.

"It always happens like this, it's the others who make you feel how special this is because you're focused on your work, trying not to screw it up. You don't have too much time to think about your emotions," he confessed.

It was all a monumental carom.

Scariolo was in Poland last week to direct Spain's last two games in the Eurobasket qualifier, so returning to the United States on Monday - the Raptors are playing in Tampa Bay, Florida, to avoid flight restrictions in Canada - entered directly into the protocol against the coronavirus.

Four days, just until this Friday.

The Brescian passed daily tests but as a precaution he lived outside the team: when the Raptors played in

Miami

, he traveled in his own vehicle and did not come into contact with his coaching teammates.

That is why he dodged this new quarantine.

Of the four who have been released, Scariolo is the highest ranking.

The ball, for Sergio

Pascal

Siakam

, one of the team's stars, also had to go into quarantine, but the Raptors saved the win against the Rockets.

At the end of the game,

Kyle Lowry

took the ball and took it to the locker room to hand it to Scariolo, a souvenir of his first NBA triumph.

"Kyle is always very attentive with those details, those little things that make this team feel like a family, a group where everyone takes care of everyone", thanked the Italian although, yes, he could not hide a surprise tic when, After having directed thousands of games, a journalist asked him if it had been difficult to direct this one.

Scariolo, who has combined his position as Spanish coach with this position as an assistant for the Raptors since 2018, explained that, in addition to the (virtual) coaching staff meeting in the morning, he spoke with Nick Nurse before the game to receive the final instructions.

"It has been very clear from the beginning. He wanted us to continue doing what we always do."

Toronto has not announced if it is a positive or a close contact, so it is not clear how long Sergio Scariolo will continue to lead the team.

He did have to talk to Nurse again, although before he had more important things.

"First I have to take the test. I do not want to make mistakes now. We can not afford it. And then we will talk," concluded the Italian, half jokingly, with his first NBA victory on the record.

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