Notebook Gay, battling left ankle sprain, likely to play tonight.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Spurs starting forward Rudy Gay is expected to return Tuesday night against the Grizzlies after missing Saturday’s loss at Utah with a sprained left ankle.
The Spurs listed Gay as probable in the injury report they released before flying to Memphis on Monday following a brief practice in San Antonio.
Without Gay, their third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, the Spurs fell 125-105 to the Jazz.
In other injury news, point guard Derrick White (sore right heel) and rookie guard Lonnie Walker IV (sprained right ankle) were ruled out for Memphis.
After winning a season-best matching five straight, the Spurs have lost a season-high four in a row without White, their top perimeter defender.
“It feels like it’s been a long time already,” reserve guard Patty Mills said of the Spurs playing without White, who is averaging 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in his second pro season.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said last week White likely will return after the All-Star break.
Tuesday night will mark the third game in a row Walker has missed.
Value of an even-keeled approach stressed: The Spurs losing four in a row after winning five straight underscores the team’s long-held belief that one should never get too high or too low, Mills said.
“That has been the mindset of our whole organization from the get-go, understanding this is a long season and you can’t ride the highs too much or ride the lows too much,” the team’s longest-tenured active player said. “This is one of those examples of not getting too full of yourself when we win however many games, and not feeling too down when we lose four in a row.
“It’s part of new team, part of the process. Keep on trucking.”
Day off appreciated: The Spurs had a full day off at home Sunday after flying back to San Antonio immediately after Saturday’s game.
“It’s always nice to come home,” center LaMarcus Aldridge said. “We’ve been on the road for a long time. Just good to get a night in your own bed. It always helps.”
Rookie returns: Chimezie Metu made the trip to Memphis after the Spurs recalled the rookie forward from the G League.
Metu contributed 10 points and seven rebounds in the Austin Spurs’ 98-89 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars on Sunday at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park.
The Austin Spurs also wasted a double-double by Drew Eubanks. The rookie center finished with 21 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field, 10 rebounds and four steals
At the movies: Former Austin Spurs guard Keifer Sykes is the subject of a documentary film premiering this month on iTunes and Amazon prime.
“Chi-Town,” directed by Nick Budabin, details the 5-foot-11 athlete’s rise from Marshall High School on Chicago’s West Side to his improbable shot at the NBA while at Spurs training camp in 2015 and later with their developmental team.
“Chi-Town” premiered at SXSW Festival in March 2018, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury prize for best feature documentary.