LOS ANGELES — Spurs assistant coach Mitch Johnson arrived for his postgame news conference Saturday with his head dry and hair undisturbed. Unlike the first time Johnson led the Spurs to victory with coach Gregg Popovich out and ailing, there would be no bottled water shower celebration after he helped guide the Spurs to a 113-103 triumph. “It was a one-time thing,” Johnson said.
The Spurs did not say if they expected Popovich to be available for the start of a two-game road trip Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers. Johnson vowed to be prepared for anything. “I think everybody's just always got to be ready, next man up,” Johnson said. Spurs blasé about Clippers’ new digs Monday’s game represents the Spurs’ first trip to face the Clippers at the Intuit Dome, the team’s sparkling, state-of-the-art new arena.