Gregg Popovich gets ejected quickly vs. Nuggets, joins Malone postgame

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich got a quick hook Wednesday night, but he did manage to join Nuggets coach Mike Malone post-game.

The San Antonio Spurs are clinging to the eight seed in the West after a 113-85 loss to the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night, but that’s not the primary headline to come out of the game. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich got ejected for the second time this week, this time just 63 seconds into the game.

As Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge was being defended in the post by Nuggets forward Paul Millsap, and missed a shot attempt, Popovich began to protest a perceived non-call. He called a timeout to really go in on referee Mark Ayotte, got two quick technical fouls and was shown the door.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, not too surprisingly, it was the fastest ejection in the NBA this season. Denver took a 6-0 lead, as Jamal Murray made one of two technical free throws, and never looked back.

Popovich didn’t have a lot to offer after the game, saying “you’ll have to ask the officials” regarding the ejection. Even for a coach who mostly offers clipped answers to the media, it was a short session.

But Popovich went on to join Nuggets coach Mike Malone’s postgame media scrum, and the exchange between the coaches was gold.

Malone: “We were just talking about an NBA record that was set tonight.”

Popovich: “What was the record? What happened?”

Malone: “Somebody got thrown out in 63 seconds.”

Popovich: “Are you serious? That person must have hit somebody. Somebody get hit tonight? Somebody get cursed at or anything?”

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Popovich is the first coach to be ejected within the first two minutes of a game since Washington Wizards head coach Flip Saunders was tossed 1:46 into a game against the Celtics in 2012.