The Toronto Raptors are heading south for the winter — at least for the start of it. The Raptors announced Friday that they would begin the 2020-21 season based in Tampa, Fla., amid concerns about the coronavirus pandemic’s impact in Canada. In a statement, Masai Ujiri, the Raptors’ president of basketball operations, left open the possibility that the team could return to Toronto at some point this season. team based outside of the United States, and Canada has imposed strict measures about travel between the two countries. But a spokesman for Patty Hajdu, Canada’s health minister, said “a decision was made to not allow the Raptors to play in Toronto at this time” based on advice from the federal public health agency.

Source: New York Times November 20, 2020 19:40 UTC