Spurs lose two more players to COVID-19 protocols
Sports // Spurs
Tom Orsborn, Staff writer
Jan. 1, 2022 Updated: Jan. 1, 2022 6:20 p.m.
San Antonio Spurs' Lonnie Walker IV, right, drives past Los Angeles Lakers' Isaiah Thomas during second half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
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San Antonio Spurs' Doug McDermott stands on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, Monday, Dec. 27, 2021, in San Antonio. Utah won 110-104. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)
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Three days into their toughest road trip of the season, the Spurs certainly have made their share of headlines.
One day after learning that assistant coach Becky Hammon will be returning to her WNBA roots at the end of the season as coach of the Las Vegas Aces, the Spurs lost two more players to the NBA's health and safety protocols.
On ExpressNews.com: WNBA's Aces officially hire Becky Hammon
Forward Doug McDermott and guard Lonnie Walker entered protocols Saturday, joining point guard Dejounte Murray and forward Devontae Cacok.
"The thing that's odd about it is nobody knows where they got it," coach Gregg Popovich said before the Spurs faced the Pistons on Saturday night in Detroit.
"It just seems to be floating around," Popovich added. "You're vaccinated, boosted and you try to wear your mask, whatever, and so-and-so comes down with a positive. Some of the guys around him are fine, and you think they should be positive, too, and that doesn't happen. So it's just very, very random. They tell us that (the omicron variant) is so contagious, so obviously it must be true. But it's nerve-wracking because you can do everything you should do, and you may still get it."
McDermott and Walker's status ruled them out for Saturday and possibly the remainder of the arduous, seven-game road trip, which began with a 118-105 loss Friday at Memphis.
On a positive note, Murray inched closer to returning to the court after transitioning to the "return to conditioning" phase of protocols, a league source said.
Without McDermott and Keita Bates-Diop, who wasn't available due to a hamstring injury, Popovich started second-year players Devin Vassell and Tre Jones along with holdovers Derrick White, Keldon Johnson and Jakob Poeltl.
"There's only one solution — to go play, whoever's left, goes and plays," Popovich said. "Simplistic, but the only choice."
In the face of all the COVID-19-related adversity, the Spurs — as they always do — will take their cues from Popovich.
"I actually put it out of my mind," he said of the uncertainty of who will be in and out of protocols each day. "Just come in in the morning and find out who is available and go with it. It's not like we are the Lone Ranger. Every team is going through it, so we all have to deal with it. It's unfortunate, but it's part of our lives."
Saturday's game marked the fourth in a row that Murray, the team's leading scorer and playmaker, has missed since he entered virus protocols Dec. 26.
It's uncertain when Murray will rejoin the team, but Popovich indicated in Memphis that it shouldn't be too long. Murray was averaging 17.8 points, 8.4 rebounds, 8.8 assists and 2.0 steals when he entered quarantine.
"If he continues to do as well as he is doing, he will join us at some point on the trip," Popovich said.
The isolation period for players testing positive for COVID-19 is six days, provided they are asymptomatic and meet other testing requirements.
McDermott, who has started all of the 26 games he's appeared in during his first season with the Spurs, is averaging 11.4 points per game and shooting 41.0 percent from 3-point range.
Walker, a key reserve, is averaging 11.2 points and shooting 31.2 percent from beyond the arc.
As of Saturday afternoon, the Pistons had eight players, including top draft pick Cade Cunningham, out because of "return to competition conditioning" after they left virus protocols Friday.
To add depth, the Spurs signed guard Jaylen Morris of NBA G League Austin affiliate to a 10-day hardship deal.
The 6-foot-5 Morris has played in 13 games with the Austin Spurs, averaging 12.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals in 27.3 minutes. He also played for the Spurs 2021 Summer League team in Utah and Las Vegas.
Morris has appeared in 10 NBA games during separate stints with Milwaukee and Atlanta. He wasn't available to play against the Pistons but should be ready to suit up soon.
With McDermott and Walker out, Popovich could give increased minutes to rookies Josh Primo and Joe Wieskamp.
"We'll be playing some of the G League guys, some guys that aren't used to starting, guys that aren't used to playing together," Popovich said. "But every team deals with it these days, so it's not unique to us."
Omicron, coupled with daily testing since Dec. 26, has decimated the league. As of Sunday, more than 120 players, 25 referees, seven head coaches and an untold number of staffers are in protocols.
The game against Detroit marked the second outing in a seven-game journey over 11 days that will continue Tuesday in Toronto.
After facing the Raptors, the Spurs will conclude the trip with games in Boston, Philadelphia and New York, where they will face both the Nets and the Knicks.
The Grizzlies broke open a tight game on New Year's Eve by taking advantage of five Spurs turnovers to outscore the visitors 27-18 in the third quarter and take an 11-point advantage into the final frame.
By the time, Popovich emptied his bench with about eight minutes left, Memphis had pushed their advantage to 18 points en route to improving their record to 23-14 with their fourth consecutive win.
"There is a reason they've got 20 wins or whatever it is," said Popovich, whose team fell to 14-20 with their second straight loss. "They were aggressive at both ends, they come ready to play, they believe in what they are doing. They believe they are one of the better teams in the league, and it shows."
torsborn@express-news.net
Twitter: @tom_orsborn
Tom Orsborn
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After three years as a part-time employee covering mainly high school sports, Tom Orsborn became a full-time employee at the Express-News in October 1985. He's covered the Dallas Cowboys and the NFL since 1999 and has also covered the Spurs, the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, and a variety of other events, including 14 Super Bowls.