Ettore Messina to coach Spurs in Game 3 vs. Warriors

SAN ANTONIO — The Spurs will be without head coach Gregg Popovich, whose wife, Erin, died Wednesday, for Game 3 of the first round Thursday night against the Warriors. San Antonio assistant coach Ettore Messina will fill in as head coach in Popovich's absence. After battling an undisclosed illness for an extended period, Erin Popovich died early Wednesday. She was 67. Erin and Gregg were married for four decades and had two children — Jill and Mickey — as well as two grandchildren. Messina, 58, is in his fourth season as a Spurs assistant. In 17 seasons as a head coach in the EuroLeague, he went 279-98. Messina has been the head coach of the Italian national team since 2015.