San Antonio Spurs: Ettore Messina to coach Game 5 vs. Warriors

Ettore Messina will replace Gregg Popovich as head coach of Game 5 between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors.

For the past two games, between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors, assistant coach Ettore Messina took over the lead duties from Gregg Popovich on the bench. Popovich’s wife, Erin, passed away before Game 3, after an extended battle with an illness.

According to ESPN, Messina will reassume the head coach duties for Tuesday’s Game 5. It is unknown when, or if, Popovich returns to the Spurs this postseason.

Under Messina, the Silver and Black lost Game 3 but won Game 4, 103-90. This saved them from elimination and avoiding a sweep to the Warriors for the second consecutive postseason. Manu Ginobili’s fourth-quarter outburst led the way, as Golden State also shot below 40 percent from the field.

Manu Ginobili scores 16 PTS (10 in Q4) in a vintage Game 4 performance to keep the @spurs season alive! #GoSpursGo #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/gA9OBpK388

— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2018

Ginobili discussed post-game playing for Popovich and their heavy hearts throughout. They must do the same again in Game 5.

All about team!

Manu Ginobili speaks about the @spurs playing team basketball to pick up the Game 4 victory at home!#GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/Is0mKAwlki

— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2018

To top the Warriors, the Spurs need a similar outing from Game 4: strong 3-point shooting and struggles from Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green. If not, Game 5 could present an uphill battle and send San Antonio home. Will they have the same, inspired performance from Sunday’s wire-to-wire victory?

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Game 5 takes place at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT, FSSW and FSBy. Can the Spurs win another game under Messina and for Popovich? Doing so would extend this series to a Game 6 on Thursday, April 26. If not, one of the most interesting offseasons in franchise history will kick off.