San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich reportedly suffered a health issue prior to being absent from his team's 113-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday (November 2), sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Shams Charania on Monday (November 4).

Popovich, 75, experienced what the team said was an undisclosed illness just before the game. Assistant coach Mitch Johnson filled in as the interim and is reportedly expected to continue in the role in the five-time NBA champion's absence, according to Charania.

The Spurs confirmed that Popovich didn't travel with the team for upcoming road games against the Los Angeles Clippers and Houston Rockets.

"Mitch did a great job, man," said Spurs guard Chris Paul after Saturday's win via ESPN. "I think our whole coaching staff [did]. Things happen within this league all the time and just like with the players, it's next man. So, shoutout to Mitch; he did a great job tonight."

Popovich is the NBA's all-time winningest coach with 1,390 regular-season victories and 170 postseason wins, all of which have come during his 29-year tenure with the Spurs. San Antonio is currently 3-3 through its first six games and seventh in the Western Conference, coming off back-to-back wins against the Timberwolves and Utah Jazz.

Chuck Dizzle