SAN FRANCISCO — Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich has ruled Kawhi Leonard out for Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with a sprained left ankle caused by what Popovich described as a “dangerous” and “unsportsmanlike” closeout by Golden State’s Zaza Pachulia.
Leonard had an MRI on Monday and Popovich had no timetable on when he’d be able to return to action.
“We’ll see what the MRI says, but obviously he won’t play tomorrow,” Popovich said.
Leonard left Game 1 on Sunday after re-injuring his tender left ankle in the third quarter when Pachulia’s foot slid under Leonard’s following a jumper by the All-Star forward.
The play happened in front of the Spurs’ bench and Popovich was angry at the time and even more upset a day after San Antonio’s 113-111 loss to the Warriors.
“A two-step, lead-with-your-foot closeout is not appropriate,” he said. “It’s dangerous, it’s unsportsmanlike. It’s just not what anybody does to anybody else. And this particular individual has a history with that kind of action.”
Popovich pointed to a history of borderline plays by Pachulia during his time with Dallas against the Spurs, including a flagrant foul against Patty Mills, a play where he locked arms with Mills in a way that “could have broken his arm,” according to Popovich, and run-ins with David West, who now plays for the Warriors.
Pachulia said he simply challenged the shot like he was taught and felt bad that the play ended with Leonard getting hurt.
CAVALIERS: The defending NBA champions announced a multiyear corporate sponsorship deal with Goodyear that will have the players wearing the tire giant’s iconic winged-foot logo on their jerseys starting next season.
The Cavaliers think the Akron-based manufacturer is a perfect partner, partially because of the local tie-in with superstar LeBron James, who also is from Akron. During a news conference, the Goodyear blimp circled above Quicken Loans Arena.
CLIPPERS: The Los Angeles Clippers will have their own team in the NBA’s soon-to-be renamed G-League that will be called the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario.
They said the new team will begin play this fall at Citizens Business Bank Arena, located 40 miles east of Los Angeles. It will bring the Gatorade League to 26 teams, all of which are owned or operated by an NBA franchise.
PELICANS: Owner Tom Benson and Executive Vice President Mickey Loomis said they have decided to retain General Manager Dell Demps and Coach Alvin Gentry heading into the 2017-18 season.
In a written statement issued by the Pelicans, Loomis calls the decision to stick with Demps and Gentry “the best course of action as we move forward.”
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