The Latest: Popovich won’t coach Game 3 after wife’s death
SAN ANTONIO (AP) The Latest on the San Antonio Spurs and coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife died at 67 (all times local):
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11:05 p.m.
The San Antonio Spurs have lost to the Golden State Warriors, 110-97 in Game 3 of their best-of-seven NBA playoff series.
San Antonio played without coach Gregg Popovich, who was at home mourning the death of his 67-year-old wife, Erin. She died on Wednesday.
Winning one for Pop was too difficult for the Spurs, who trailed by 12 entering the fourth quarter. They briefly narrowed the gap to single digits early in the quarter, but the Warriors quickly regained control.
Golden State leads the series 3-0, placing the Spurs at the brink of elimination.
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10:35 p.m.
Winning one for Pop will be an uphill climb for the San Antonio Spurs.
They trail Golden State 84-72 heading to the fourth quarter.
San Antonio is playing without coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife Erin died Wednesday.
A win by Golden State will give the Warriors a 3-0 lead and place the Spurs at the brink of elimination in the best-of-seven NBA playoff series.
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10:00 p.m.
The Golden State Warriors lead the San Antonio Spurs 52-46 at halftime behind 17 points from Kevin Durant.
The Spurs are playing without coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife Erin died Wednesday.
The team did not air a video tribute or hold a moment of silence for Erin Popovich in an apparent attempt to make the game as routine as possible for its players, but that was impossible.
The Spurs had an emotional start as the sold-out crowd at AT&T Center attempted to invigorate the home team with some of the most deafening cheers of the season.
Already on the edge of their seats for the first home game of the playoffs, the fans erupted when Rudy Gay threw down a one-handed dunk over Golden State's JaVale McGee. The cheering was nearly constant as the Spurs scored the game's first six points before the Warriors began to settle in.
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9:20 p.m.
The San Antonio Spurs trail Golden State 26-23 after the first quarter of Game 3 of their NBA playoff series.
The Spurs, who dropped the first two games, took the court with heavy hearts, mourning the death of coach Gregg Popovich's wife, Erin. Popovich did not coach the game. Ettore Messina, a Spurs assistant since 2014, was on the bench in his place.
There was no moment of silence or tribute before the game.
Fans roared when the Spurs took the court and scored the first six points. One fan held up a sign that read ''Popovich Strong.''
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1 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker says he has always viewed coach Gregg Popovich and his wife, Erin, as like his mom and dad.
Parker broke in to the NBA when he was 19. He says Erin Popovich's death this week at the age of 67 is very emotional. He spent time with the family on Wednesday night.
The Spurs will be without Popovich for Thursday night's Game 3 at home against Golden State. The Warriors won the first two games of the playoff series.
Parker says the Spurs will do their best to get a win for Popovich.
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Noon
San Antonio Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili says when the time comes, the team will play - even as they mourn the loss of Erin Popovich, the wife of coach Gregg Popovich.
Ginobili says family is first, and it's hard to prepare for Thursday night's Game 3 against Golden State. Popovich will not be on the sideline with the team, which is down 0-2. Erin Popovich died this week at the age of 67.
Ginobili says the team is hurting and sad. He then walked away from reporters, fighting back tears.
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11:30 a.m.
San Antonio Spurs general manager R.C. Buford says the team is suffering from a profound loss.
Erin Popovich, the wife of coach Gregg Popovich, died this week at the age of 67. With his team down 0-2, Popovich is not coaching Game 3 on Thursday night at home against Golden State.
Buford says Erin and Gregg were best friends who were together for 40 years. He says her impact on the tightknit Spurs organization will be felt for years.
Buford also says Popovich has been overwhelmed by the support he's seen from across the NBA
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10:45 a.m.
The San Antonio Spurs say Gregg Popovich will not coach the team at home Thursday night in Game 3 against Golden State following the death of his wife.
Ettore Messina, a Spurs assistant since 2014, will coach the team. San Antonio lost the first two games of the first-round playoff series on the road.
The Spurs announced Erin Popovich's death Wednesday. She was 67.
Popovich has coached San Antonio since 1996, leading the Spurs to five NBA titles. He ran the Spurs' practice Wednesday
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10 a.m.
The wife of San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has died. She was 67.
The Spurs confirmed Erin Popovich's death Wednesday. The team didn't provide further details.
''We mourn the loss of Erin,'' Spurs general manager RC Buford said in a team statement. ''She was a strong, wonderful, kind, intelligent woman who provided love, support and humor to all of us.''
The couple has two children and two grandchildren. They met at the Air Force Academy in the 1970s when he was an assistant coach for the Falcons. Erin's father, Jim Conboy, was Air Force's head athletic trainer.
Gregg Popovich has coached San Antonio since 1996, leading the Spurs to five NBA titles. San Antonio will face Golden State on Thursday night in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.
Popovich ran the Spurs' practice Wednesday. The Warriors lead the series 2-0.
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