Popovich likely to return as Spurs coach for 24th season

Gregg Popovich, the longest-tenured coach in the big four sports in the U.S., hinted Monday he's in negotiations to return to the San Antonio Spurs for a 24th season. "I've never talked about my contract in all these years. I've never had an agent. I've never talked about the contract," Popovich said seriously before ending the discussion of his contract with a joke. "My contract is basically my business, but I'll break the rule this time. I'm currently in negotiations, and I could very well end up with the Portofino Flyers or the Positano Pirates. I think it's one-third Positano, one-third Portofino and one-third San Antonio."

Popovich's contract expired after Saturday's 90-86 Game 7 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. But in speaking with reporters Monday, the 70-year-old sounded like a coach very much looking ahead to next season. The Spurs have won five NBA titles during his tenure. --Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti said that Billy Donovan will return for a fifth season as coach of the Thunder in 2019-20.

"We anticipate Billy being back," Presti said during a press conference. "I wouldn't expect anything to change. There's nobody that works harder than him." The Thunder have compiled a 199-129 (.607) record in the regular season under Donovan, but are just 4-12 in the last three postseasons. A 4-1 series loss to the Portland Trail Blazers this year marked Oklahoma City's third straight first-round exit since Kevin Durant left for the Golden State Warriors in free agency in 2016.

--Houston Rockets guard Chris Paul was fined $35,000 for "aggressively confronting and recklessly making contact with a game official" Sunday, according to Kiki VanDeWeghe, Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations, but he will not be suspended. Paul received his second technical foul and an automatic ejection when he argued with an official about a non-call with 4.4 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter of the Rockets' 104-100 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena.

Paul's outburst came after James Harden appeared to be fouled by Draymond Green while attempting a 3-pointer. After a scramble for the ball ended up in a ruling of Warriors' possession, Paul argued and made contact with an official. --The NBA's Last Two Minute report displays there were three incorrect non-calls in the final 71 seconds of Sunday's game between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. The Warriors won 104-100.

The incorrect non-calls occurred with 1:10.6, 51.9 seconds and 5.2 seconds remaining. The first involved a turnover by Houston's James Harden in which he stepped on the baseline. The report said that a foul should have been called on Golden State's Stephen Curry. With 51.9 seconds left, Golden State's Klay Thompson made a move toward the basket and took a jumper. The report said Thompson should have been called for traveling.

After Harden missed the tying 3-point shot with 10.1 seconds left, there was a scramble for the loose ball. Houston's Eric Gordon was ruled to have stepped out of bounds with 5.2 seconds left. The report said Curry should have been called for a foul. The report said a non-call was correct when Harden missed the potential tying shot because Golden State's Draymond Green would not have made contact "if Harden hadn't extended his legs."

--Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has the stomach flu and is listed as probable for Monday night's Game 2 in Toronto. The All-Star did not participate in the morning shootaround but is expected to be in the lineup against the Raptors, who have a 1-0 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Embiid missed 13 of his 18 shots and scored 16 points in Saturday's 108-95 loss in Game 1. --Portland Trail Blazers center Enes Kanter is listed as questionable for Monday night's series opener in Denver due to his shoulder injury.

Kanter, 26, suffered a separated left shoulder in Game 5 of the first-round series against Oklahoma City last Tuesday. He told reporters Monday that he hoped to be on the floor for Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Nuggets. Kanter started all five games against the Thunder and averaged 13.2 points and 10.2 rebounds.

--Three-time NBA champion Bruce Bowen has been named basketball coach at Cornerstone Christian High School in San Antonio. In an interview with television station KSAT, Bowen said he was excited about the opportunity and happy to have a chance to "teach them the fundamentals of the game."

Bowen, a 6-foot-7 forward, was a member of the San Antonio Spurs' championship teams in 2003, 2005 and 2007. An undrafted free agent from Cal State Fullerton, he entered the NBA in 1996 with Miami, and he also played for Boston and Philadelphia before landing in San Antonio, where he spent the final eight seasons of his career. He was an All-NBA defensive team member eight teams and is just one of nine Spurs players whose number has been retired.