Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will miss Wednesday night's game against the Indiana Pacers after undergoing what the team is calling a minor medical procedure.
Popovich also is expected to miss Friday's home game against Sacramento. Assistant Ettore Messina will run the team in Popovich's absence. Messina becomes the first European-born coach to run an NBA team in the regular season.
''It's not what you want, but the good thing is that obviously it's nothing big or you would not see me here so relaxed,'' Messina said. The 65-year-old Popovich is in his 18th season as head coach of the Spurs.