Popovich ejected 63 seconds into Nuggets game
Gregg Popovich is upset over a non-foul call and gets two quick technicals and an ejection early in the first quarter. (0:18)
Gregg Popovich’s night Wednesday lasted all of 1 minute, 3 seconds.
The Spurs coach was ejected from San Antonio’s game in Denver just over a minute into the first quarter, apparently upset over a non-call on the Nuggets‘ Paul Millsap.
Millsap was defending LaMarcus Aldridge in the post. Aldridge turned around for a short jumper with Millsap in his face and missed the attempt. Popovich shot out of his chair on the bench complaining, then called a timeout and continued to protest the non-call to official Mark Ayotte.
Popovich was hit with two technical fouls and shown the door for the fastest ejection this season, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Nuggets guard Jamal Murray made one of two free throws to give Denver an early 6-0 lead.
The Spurs went on to lose 113-85, and they now are eighth place in the Western Conference at 45-34, a half-game behind the Oklahoma City Thunder, who were idle.
Following the game, Popovich didn’t have much to say about his ejection.
“You’ll have to ask the officials,” he said.
Gregg Popovich crashes Nuggets coach Michael Malone’s news conference to address his ejection 63 seconds into the game.
Soon after, Popovich joined the scrum where Nuggets coach Michael Malone was conducting his postgame interviews. The exchange between the coaches was nearly as long as Popovich’s appearance in the contest.
Malone: “We were just talking about an NBA record that was set tonight.”
Popovich: “What was the record? What happened?”
Malone: “Somebody got thrown out in 63 seconds.”
Popovich: “Are you serious? That person must have hit somebody. Somebody get hit tonight? Somebody get cursed at or anything?”
Wednesday’s game marked the second time this week Popovich was ejected. He got tossed after arguing with officials in the third quarter of San Antonio’s 113-106 home loss to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Popovich is the first head coach to be ejected within the first two minutes of a game since Washington Wizards coach Flip Saunders, who was tossed 1:46 into a 2012 game at the Boston Celtics.