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A group of San Antonio Spurs fans filed a lawsuit naming Golden State center Zaza Pachulia and the Warriors as defendants. The lawsuit was filed in Bexar County district court in Texas on Tuesday, and it alleges that Pachulia's actions against Kawhi Leonard in Sunday's Game 1 "devastated the quality of the Spurs' chances of being competitive" and diminished "the value of the tickets purchased by plaintiff subsequent to their purchase."
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The lead attorney for the plaintiffs is Alfonso Kennard Jr., and he told the San Antonio Express-News, "All we are asking from the court is that this type of behavior, that can and does cause serious injury to our team and those that love it, not be allowed in San Antonio."
During the Warriors' Game 1 victory, Pachulia was defending an outside jump shot by the Spurs' Leonard. Leonard landed on Pachulia's extended foot, tweaking his sprained ankle and forcing him to leave the game.
The Spurs, who led by 23 points in the third quarter when Leonard left the game, lost Game 1. Leonard did not play in Game 2, and the Warriors won that one 136-100.
Leonard remains questionable for Saturday's Game 3 at San Antonio.
The lawsuit states Pachulia acted "without excuse or justification, intentionally and maliciously invaded the landing zone of an opposing athlete, Kawhi Leonard."
The plaintiffs' suit requests damages no greater than $73,000, a temporary restraining order issued that requires the defendants to restrain from the conduct described and other relief the plaintiffs are ruled to be justly entitled to.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich claimed the day after Game 1 that Pachulia's play was "dangerous" and "unsportsmanlike." However, the NBA did not punish Pachulia for his play.
