Popovich called the quick timeout after Washington’s Thomas Bryant had an uncontested dunk shortly after the tip. The play drew Popovich’s ire and he was visibly upset with the defensive breakdown by his starting five.
“It all starts with the first play. That kind of sets the tone for us,” said Bryn Forbes, Spurs shooting guard. ” I think that’s what he’s trying to do, set that tone and show how serious he was about the first play and the beginning of games. We just made a dumb mistake to start the game.”
The Spurs responded with a 36-point first quarter and despite defensive trouble in the second quarter, beat Washington 132-119.
Spurs guard Derrick White said after the game that he’s never had a coach call that quick of a timeout. “It’s not really how you want to start giving up a dunk,” said White.
