Page 21 - ARUBA TODAY

A21
SPORTS Tuesday 16 May 2017

Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard ruled

out for Game 2 vs Warriors

JOSH DUBOW, your-foot closeout is not “Because he has this histo-
AP Sports Writer appropriate,” he said. “It’s ry, it can’t just be, ‘Oh, it’s
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — dangerous, it’s unsports- inadvertent. He didn’t have
Spurs coach Gregg Popo- manlike. It’s just not what intent,’” he said. “Who gives
vich has ruled Kawhi Leon- anybody does to anybody a damn about what his in-
ard out for Game 2 of the else. And this particular in- tent was. You ever hear of
Western Conference finals dividual has a history with manslaughter? You still go
with a sprained left ankle that kind of action.” to jail, I think, when you’re
caused by what Popovich Pachulia said he simply texting and you end up
described as a “danger- challenged the shot like he killing somebody but you
ous” and “unsportsman- was taught and felt bad might not have intended
like” closeout by Golden that the play ended with to do that. All I care about
State’s Zaza Pachulia. Leonard getting hurt. is what I saw. All I care
Leonard had an MRI on “This is the game of bas- about is what happened
Monday and Popovich ketball, a lot of crazy stuff and the history there exac-
had no timetable on when happens on the court, un- erbates the whole situation
he’d be able to return to fortunately,” he said. “It and makes me very, very
action. “We’ll see what happened to me as well. angry.” Warriors acting
the MRI says, but obviously When you play this kind coach Mike Brown, a for-
he won’t play tomorrow,” of physical game, intense mer assistant to Popovich,
Popovich said. game, things happen. My said that he believes his old
Leonard left Game 1 on approach to this game for mentor was just protecting
Sunday after re-injuring his the 14 years I’ve been in this his players and pointed to
tender left ankle in the third league is to play hard and a play that came shortly San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard (2) scores against the
quarter when Pachulia’s give 100 percent of what- after where San Antonio’s Golden State Warriors during the first half of Game 1 of the NBA
foot slid under Leonard’s ever I have. I don’t agree LaMarcus Aldridge’s foot basketball Western Conference finals in Oakland, Calif., Sun-
following a jumper by the with the calls that I’m a got underneath Stephen day, May 14, 2017.
All-Star forward. dirty player. I’m not a dirty Curry on a jumper but there Associated Press
The play happened in front player. I just love this game was no call because Curry
of the Spurs bench and and I’m playing hard. That’s didn’t land on it. to see anybody get injured contest, they slide under
Popovich was angry at the how I was taught since Day “It’s the same play,” Brown on a situation like that. You the shooter a little bit —
time and even more upset 1, honestly.” said. “Zaza’s not a dirty go back and watch the neither one I think on pur-
a day after San Antonio’s But Popovich wasn’t buy- player. LaMarcus is not a film, they’re both identical: pose — and one happens
113-111 loss to the Warriors. ing any defense from Pa- dirty player. It’s a tough two guys shooting the ball, to land on one’s foot and
“A two-step, lead-with- chulia about lack of intent. basketball play. You hate two big guys going out to the other one doesn’t.”q
Mercury star Diana Taurasi weds ex-teammate Penny Taylor

PHOENIX (AP) — Diana four consecutive Olympic and is now the team’s di-
Taurasi has married former gold medals. rector of player personnel.
Phoenix Mercury team- The couple married Satur-
mate Penny Taylor, then day. Taurasi had a rough At left, in a Sept. 2, 2016, file photo, Phoe-
played in the team’s sea- opener on Sunday, shoot- nix Mercury’s Diana Taurasi is shown dur-
son opener less than 24 ing 1-for-11 in the 68-58 loss ing the second half of a WNBA basketball
game in Uncasville, Conn. At right, in a
hours later. to the Dallas Wings. Sept. 9, 2014, file photo, Phoenix Mercury
The 34-year-old Taurasi Taylor, who will turn 36 next forward Penny Taylor is shown during the
has played for the Mercu- week, retired last summer second half of Game 2 of the WNBA bas-
ry since 2004, helping the after a 13-year career in ketball finals against the Chicago Sky in
team win three titles. She the WNBA. She played her Phoenix.
also helped the U.S. win final 10 seasons in Phoenix Associated Press