Report: Pachulia not expected to face punishment for closeout on Kawhi

Golden State Warriors center Zaza Pachulia is not expected to face punishment for his "unnatural closeout" on Kawhi Leonard during Sunday's Game 1, league sources tell ESPN's Marc Stein.

Leonard was forced out of the contest with a left ankle sprain after being undercut by Pachulia in the third quarter. San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich told reporters Monday that the two-time All-Star will not be playing in Tuesday's Game 2.

While Pachulia said it was "really stupid" to believe he injured Leonard on purpose, Popovich thought otherwise, ripping the 33-year-old for undercutting his star forward.

"The two-step, lead-with-your-foot closeout is not appropriate," Popovich said. "It's dangerous, it's unsportsmanlike, it's just not what anybody does to anybody else. And this particular individual has a history with that kind of action."

With Leonard out of the game, the Spurs struggled to hold onto their 23-point lead, falling 113-111 to Golden State.