Community Picks: San Antonio Spurs 0% vs Golden State Warriors 0%

Caption Close SAN FRANCISCO — Express-News staff writer Jeff McDonald breaks down what San Antonio must do to even the West finals series at a game apiece. Channel emotions: Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was livid after Game 1 about Zaza Pachulia’s foul on Kawhi Leonard. Others in the locker room expressed private thoughts that Pachulia had committed a dirty play. With Popovich going all-in on his Pachulia criticism Monday, the Spurs have their rallying cry for Game 2. Don’t expect the Spurs to take pot shots at Pachulia — that isn’t their style — but do expect them to play hard and with a purpose. It might not be enough to push the Spurs over the top against the mighty Warriors sans Leonard, but Continue to Article

May 16, 2017 9:47:am EST

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich ripped Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia on Monday for a controversial foul that injured Kawhi Leonard in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. During the third quarter, Pachulia closed out on a Leonard shot attempt and appeared to put his foot under Leonard after the shot. Leonard, whose injured ankle kept him out of Game 6 and part of Game 5 of the Spurs' second-round series against the Houston Rockets, landed on Pachulia's foot and had to leave the game. Continue to Article

May 16, 2017 9:37:am EST

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs are set to go back at it just two days after competing in one of the most exciting games of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals is set for Tuesday night, and the Spurs will likely take the court without the banged up Kawhi Leonard. Game 2 is set to start at 9 p.m. EDT, a half hour after the NBA draft lottery gets underway to determine the order of the top 14 first-round picks. Continue to Article

May 16, 2017 9:32:am EST

Kawhi Leonard will miss Game 2 of the Western Conference finals with an ankle sprain, though the San Antonio Spurs' MVP candidate has already made it back from the injury once this postseason. Ankle injuries in basketball are not uncommon, at any level. But when you're one of the best players in the league, playing on the NBA's postseason stage against the league's best team, it becomes a big deal. Add in how some are questioning ( see Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ) whether Leonard was injured by a dirty play in the series opener Sunday against the Golden State Warriors, and it's even bigger. Still, none of that changes the uphill challenge Leonard faces getting back on the court again. He returned Continue to Article

May 16, 2017 8:57:am EST