NBA: Italian coach subs in for Popovich as Spurs defeat Pacers

Assistant coach Ettore Messina guided San Antonio over the Indiana Pacers 106-100 Wednesday, becoming the first Italian to coach an NBA game while replacing Spurs coach Gregg Popovich.

 

Popovich, the NBA’s longest-tenured coach, missed the game with what the team called a minor medical procedure. The coach who guided the Spurs to last season’s NBA title will miss an undisclosed period of time.

 

“He will be back soon,” said Messina, an Italian Basketball Hall of Fame member and two-time Euroleague Coach of the Year.

 

French guard Tony Parker and forward Kawhi Leonard each scored 21 points for San Antonio while Leonard also contributed 13 rebounds for the Spurs, who improved to 10-4.

 

Tim Duncan added 17 points for the Spurs, who were two games behind Southwest division leader Memphis.

 

Rodney Stuckey scored 22 points to lead Indiana, which also had 13 points from Luis Scola and 12 from reserve Chris Copeland.

 

The Pacers fell to 6-9, three games behind pace-settler Chicago in the Central division. — Agence France-Presse