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Coach Pop 'pops off' on Zaza's closeout, Kawhi's injury

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich spoke his mind on what went down between Kawhi Leonard and Zaza Pachulia during Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors.

Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich spoke his mind on what went down between Kawhi Leonard and Zaza Pachulia during Game 1 against the Golden State Warriors.

"Do you expect the league to do anything? They do what they do. I could care less. All I care about is Kawhi is not there," Pop said during a press conference Monday.

He said Leonard was in an MRI as of around 12:30 p.m., but his "guess" was that Leonard would be out for Game 2 Tuesday.

"A two step lead with your foot closeout is not appropriate," Pop said of the moment Leonard's ankle was injured.

However, Leonard has said that it was not a dirty play.

Pop said he was "not a happy camper," as Spurs fans can imagine.

"Who gives a damn what his intent was? You ever hear of manslaughter? You still go to jail if you were [texting and driving] and never intended to kill somebody. It makes me very angry," he said.

When it comes to Pachulia's past, Pop said he "has a history with that action."

"You want to know how we feel? We're playing very possibly the best team in the league. We've had a pretty damn good season. We were up 23 points in the third quarter... that's how we feel," Pop said.

Pachulia responded to the criticism later Monday, saying he had a lot of respect for Popovich and the Spurs but that he didn't intentionally injure Leonard.

"I wished he didn't land on my foot and honestly, I had no idea that he landed on my foot until I turned back and he was already on the ground," Pachulia told reporters. "Because as soon as he released the ball, I turned around and tried to chase the rebound and see where the ball was going, and then apparently he landed on my foot."

"I really feel bad for the guy. I wish it didn't happen.... But again, it's a game there's stuff you can't control."

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