FILE – In this Feb. 23, 2018, file photo, San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich watches in the second half of an NBA basketball against the Denver Nuggets, in Denver. The NBA is paying tribute to the wife of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. Erin Popovich died Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at 67, the team said. Her death came after a long illness, the San Antonio Express-News reported. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
SAN ANTONIO — Gregg Popovich won’t coach the San Antonio Spurs in their possible series finale against the Golden State Warriors as he grieves the death of his wife.
Spurs assistant Ettore Messina coached San Antonio in Game 3 and will again Sunday afternoon.
Erin Popovich passed away Wednesday from a long-term illness. Gregg and Erin were married four decades and have two children and two grandchildren.
“You know how important Pop is, not only for us players, but the whole organization and the whole NBA,” Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili said after practice Saturday. “We probably are in a better situation emotionally and hopefully it fuels us. But it’s hard to tell how a team is going to react.”
Golden State won 110-97 on Thursday night for a 3-0 lead in the first-round series.