HANG TIME HEADQUARTERS — The San Antonio Spurs will be without coach Gregg Popovich for their next two games as he takes time to deal with a family medical emergency, according to the team.
Spurs assistant Ettore Messina will take over for Popovich while he is away. Messina will be in charge for a back-to-back set, against the Pacers on Monday and Tuesday night in Minneapolis against the Timberwolves.
“It won’t change things,” Spurs forward David West said of Popovich’s absence to the Express-News. “We’ve got a really veteran group, guys who are not going to deviate from what we’ve been doing. We know we’ve got to play defense and move the ball and get the best shot available every offensive possession.
“We are just going to do our business and try to get off to a good start on this road trip.”
The Spurs are 53-9 and just two 2.5 games behind the first place Golden State Warriors (55-6) in the Western Conference standings heading into tonight’s action.
