San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Injuries continue to hobble guards
NEW ORLEANS — The Spurs arrived at the Smoothie King Center on Saturday afternoon with a distinct dearth of healthy guards.
In addition to Lonnie Walker, who missed his third consecutive game with back spasms, the Spurs also lost starting guard Devin Vassell to the injured list.
Vassell, who is dealing with soreness in his right Achilles tendon, warmed up before the game against New Orleans but was ruled out.
It was a true game-time decision.
“He tried it and must have told them he can’t go,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Walker has been out since the Spurs’ previous meeting against the Pelicans on March 18 in San Antonio. He took a knee to the back from New Orleans’ Willy Hernangomez in the first half of the Spurs’ 124-91 defeat.
Like Vassell, Walker warmed up before Saturday’s game, Popovich said, but ultimately was deemed unavailable.
Popovich said Walker is coming along “slowly but surely.”
“He tried it again also, but I knew he wouldn’t be able to go once we got here,” Popovich said.
The Spurs were already without starting forward Doug McDermott, who was lost for the season after suffering an ankle sprain against Indiana on March 12.
With options limited Saturday, Popovich started Josh Richardson in place of Vassell.
It was sixth start for Richardson in 13 appearances since joining the Spurs in February.
Pelicans coach likes facing Spurs
New Orleans coach Willie Green said he was glad to find his young team in the heat of a Western Conference play-in race.
As a first-year head coach, the 40-year-old Green views the opportunity to play another meaningful game against the Spurs was a substantial learning
experience.
“It’s great for me to be in games like this as a coach — and for our staff,” said Green, who had been an assistant at Golden State and Phoenix before taking the Pelicans’ reins. “San Antonio presents a challenge because they don’t really beat themselves. They don’t turn the ball over a ton. Their guys understand what they are trying to accomplish on
the floor.”
Team receives extra dose of ‘Big Easy’
With the schedule giving the Spurs an extra day off between Wednesday’s victory at Portland and Saturday’s contest in New Orleans, the team was presented the option of sneaking in an extra day at home in between.
For Popovich, heading to New Orleans a day early Thursday was a no-brainer decision.
“It’s hard to go home and come back out when you’ve already been on the road,” Popovich said.
There might have been a ulterior motivation for Popovich to want to spend an extra night in the “Big Easy.”
On Friday night, Popovich
hosted a group dinner at Gautreau’s, a popular hangout for New Orleans’ first family of sports, Archie Manning and his clan.
“We took advantage of it, ate some good food, enjoyed New Orleans,” Popovich said. “It’s a great place.”