Spurs beat Trail Blazers 118-105, with Popovich missing his 4th straight game

Sport

Spurs beat Trail Blazers 118-105, with Popovich missing his 4th straight game

2024-11-08 11:55 Last Updated At：12:00

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Keldon Johnson and Malaki Branham had 17 points each and the San Antonio Spurs beat Portland 118-105 on Thursday night in their fourth game without coach Gregg Popovich.

Popovich has been out since having a medical episode Saturday before a home game against Minnesota. Prior to the game Thursday, Spurs acting head coach Mitch Johnson said the team is unsure when Popovich will return.

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Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara (33) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons (1) drives against San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija attempts to shoot as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan, left, and San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) guards San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, left, speaks with Portland guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) is called for a technical foul by referee Sean Corbin during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle, left, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins (23) and Keldon Johnson (0) tangle with Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija (8) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant (9) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Blake Wesley, center, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson, left, and Dalano Banton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

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Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara (33) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons (1) drives against San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija attempts to shoot as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan, left, and San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) guards San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, left, speaks with Portland guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) is called for a technical foul by referee Sean Corbin during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle, left, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins (23) and Keldon Johnson (0) tangle with Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija (8) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant (9) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Blake Wesley, center, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson, left, and Dalano Banton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Zach Collins and Julian Champagnie added 14 points each to help the Spurs snap a two-game skid. Victor Wembanyama had 12 points. Branham exited two minutes into the fourth quarter after rolling his right ankle.

Deandre Ayton had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Portland. Jerami Grant also had 21 points, and Anfernee Simons added 19.

Trail Blazers: Portland was 9 for 32 on 3-pointers. Simons was 3 for 9 on 3s, but the rest of the starting lineup was 3 for 12.

Spurs: San Antonio has struggled to find a consistent second scoring option behind Wembanyama, but that should change with the return of Devin Vassell. Vassell missed the first nine games following offseason surgery for a stress reaction of the third metatarsal head in his right foot.

With Portland trailing 64-62, San Antonio was able to extend the lead to four points on a 3-pointer by Branham and off-the-ball foul on Grant that Wembanyama converted into a free throw. The play gave the Spurs a 68-62 lead.

Backups Branham, Johnson, Collins and Blake Wesley combined for 58 points. With the team’s depth thinning with injuries to Jeremy Sochan, Tre Jones, Vassell and now Branham, the Spurs have needed greater contributions from more of their reserves.

Portland is at Minnesota on Friday night. The Spurs host Utah on Saturday.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

India's top order collapses to 57-3 at lunch vs Australia on Day 1 of 5th test. Sharma 'rested'

2025-01-03 10:25 Last Updated At：10:31

SYDNEY (AP) — Despite the absence of struggling captain Rohit Sharma, India's top order again crumbled as it reached 57-3 at lunch on the first day of the decisive fifth and final test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

Sharma was replaced as skipper by Jasprit Bumrah, who earlier won the toss and batted on a green-tinged SCG wicket under overcast skies.

Bumrah's decision appeared to backfire early on as the tourists lost KL Rahul and Jaiswal Yashasvi in the first eight overs and then very nearly Virat Kohli also, only for a a contentious TV umpire decision to save the star batter.

Nathan Lyon saw the hosts go to the break the happier when he snared Shubman Gill with the final ball before lunch.

At the break, Kohli was 12 not out.

The start of the fifth test mirrored the four previous it as the bowlers dominated early.

After several deliveries beat the edge of the bat outside off-stump, Mitchell Starc (1-24) found more joy bowling straighter as Rahul (4) chipped a simple catch to Sam Konstas at square leg in the fifth over when India was 11-1.

Scott Boland (1-5) was then introduced into the attack and only needed four balls at Jaiswal (10) to have the young opener edge a ball through to debutant Beau Webster at third slip to reduce the tourists to a shaky 17-2.

That brought Kohli, the series' pantomime villain, to the crease. Kohli was greeted by booing from many in the the SCG crowd, stemming from his deliberate shoulder bump on Konstas on the opening morning of the Boxing Day text for which he was later fined.

And fittingly, his first ball was the most dramatic of the session. Boland drew the edge and it flew low to Steve Smith's right hand at second slip. Smith appeared to get his hand just under the ball before it hit the ground and the ball popped up for Marnus Labuschagne to complete the catch, sparking wild celebrations for the hosts.

The catch was referred to TV umpire Joel Wilson with replays suggesting the ball may have touched the grass as it came out of Smith hand and Kohli survived.

As lunch approached, Lyon (1-1) was introduced into the attack and in his second over he had Gill (20) edging through to Smith who took a clean catch at chest-height to end the session.

Australia made one change to its team that clinched a dramatic 184-run win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday to take a 2-1 series lead with allrounder Mitch Marsh dropped for Webster to make a test debut.

Australia leads the series 2-1 and must avoid defeat to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy for the first time since 2014-15. A win by India and a drawn series at 2-2 would allow the visitors to retain the trophy for a record-extending fifth consecutive time.

A win for Australia at the SCG would book the team’s spot in a second straight World Test Championship final. Australia beat India in the 2023 decider.

South Africa became the first team to qualify for the WTC final at Lord’s in June by winning a dramatic match at home to Pakistan last weekend.

Intense speculation that Sharma would be dropped for the final test was confirmed shortly before play with Bumrah named as India's captain.

With scores of 3, 6, 10, 3 and 9 at an average of 6.2 for the series, Sharma has had a wretched tour since coming back into the side for the second test after he missed India’s comprehensive first-test win in Perth on paternity leave.

While the India team said Sharma had been “rested," the 37-year-old's test career would now appear in peril.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Spurs beat Trail Blazers 118-105, with Popovich missing his 4th straight game

Sport

Spurs beat Trail Blazers 118-105, with Popovich missing his 4th straight game

Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara (33) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons (1) drives against San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija attempts to shoot as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan, left, and San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) guards San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, left, speaks with Portland guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) is called for a technical foul by referee Sean Corbin during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle, left, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins (23) and Keldon Johnson (0) tangle with Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija (8) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant (9) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Blake Wesley, center, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson, left, and Dalano Banton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara, left, collides with San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Toumani Camara (33) goes to the basket against San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons (1) drives against San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija attempts to shoot as he is defended by San Antonio Spurs' Keldon Johnson, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Donovan Clingan, left, and San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins chase the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) guards San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, left, speaks with Portland guard Anfernee Simons during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

Portland Trail Blazers' Deandre Ayton (2) is called for a technical foul by referee Sean Corbin during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Stephon Castle, left, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Anfernee Simons during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Zach Collins (23) and Keldon Johnson (0) tangle with Portland Trail Blazers' Deni Avdija (8) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama (1) goes to the basket against Portland Trail Blazers' Jerami Grant (9) and Deandre Ayton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

San Antonio Spurs' Blake Wesley, center, tangles with Portland Trail Blazers' Scoot Henderson, left, and Dalano Banton during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, in San Antonio. San Antonio won 118-105. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

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