Gay expected back tonight after missing past five games.
DALLAS — Spurs forward Rudy Gay is close to a return after missing the past five games with a sprained left wrist.
The 13th-year pro is probable for tonight’s game against the Mavericks, according to Tuesday’s injury report.
Gay, who has started 32 of the 35 games he’s played in this season, said before Monday’s 108-93 loss to the Charlotte Hornets that he hoped he would be active in Dallas after getting a cortisone injection.
The absence of Gay and sharpshooting reserve guard Marco Belinelli (left knee contusion) contributed to the Spurs’ offensive struggles against the Hornets, leading scorer DeMar DeRozan said.
“It’s been tough since he’s been out,” DeRozan said after Monday’s game, referring to the Spurs’ 2-3 record without Gay, their thirdleading scorer (13.6 points per game) and second-leading rebounder (6.6).
“As soon as we get him back, I’m pretty sure we will get back to where we left off,” DeRozan said.
The Spurs listed Belinelli as questionable for tonight’s game.
“Not having Beli hurt us,” DeRozan said. “He brings a different type of energy out there, whether it’s by stretching the floor (with his 3-point shooting) or getting to the basket. We kind of feed off a lot of things he does.”
Belinelli missed just his second game of the season after hurting his knee in Saturday’s 122-112 road loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Belinelli scored a seasonhigh 24 points Saturday. Over his past three games, he’s averaging 19.0 points while shooting 70.6 percent from 3-point range (12 of 17). He’s averaging 10.5 points for the season while shooting 38.6 percent from distance.
The Spurs have struggled with their long-range shooting after a record-setting 16of-19 showing (84.2 percent) in last week’s 154-147 doubleovertime win over the Thunder at the AT&T Center. In the two games since, the Spurs are a combined 17 of 51 (33.3 percent).
Team player: Gay’s return could mean a move back to the bench for Pau Gasol.
With Gay out, Popovich has played LaMarcus Aldridge at power forward the past three games while starting Gasol at center.
Gasol has yet to play more than 16 minutes in a game since returning from a left foot injury that sidelined him for 26 games. After shootaround Monday, he pledged to continue to put the team first.
“It’s trying to find (a role) while also trying to fulfill what the team needs from you, and kind of ease into it without being disruptive and understand that the team (comes) first always,” Gasol said. “And little by little you want to be more yourself.
“So that’s where I am at. I am just happy that the foot has responded well, and I can build from here.”
Head for business: Gay continues to expand his business interests.
His latest venture: Opening up PickUp USA gyms in Florida and his home state of Maryland.
PickUp USA gyms are fullservice basketball-oriented fitness centers. Besides private basketball training, weights and cardio, the gyms offer pickup basketball with referees.
“I like the fact that it gives people the chance to do what I do — have organized basketball, organized training and organized weight training — all things I do on a daily basis,” Gay said in a news release.
Over the offseason, Gay launched a children’s clothing line on Zappos.com in collaboration with Superism, dubbed “We Can All Ball.”