Photo: David Zalubowski / Associated Press

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Spurs continue to operate without a firm timetable for injured forward Rudy Gay’s return.

Gay missed the Spurs’ trip to Detroit and Memphis to have his sore left wrist re-examined in San Antonio by the team’s medical staff.

“They’re trying to figure out exactly what they want to do,” coach Gregg Popovich said before Wednesday’s game against the Grizzlies. “He’ll probably get some treatment, whether it’s a shot or something else, I’m not sure. He’ll definitely miss the next couple of games.”

Gay, 32, is not expected to play when the Spurs return home tonight to face Oklahoma City. His availability for the Spurs’ rematch with the Thunder on Saturday in Oklahoma City is uncertain.

Gay initially sprained the wrist in a victory at the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 29. He has missed three of the Spurs’ five games since while trying to play through lingering soreness.

He’s the Spurs’ third-leading scorer at 13.6 points per game, and averages 6.6 rebounds.

“We miss the dynamic skills he brings to the court on both ends — his scoring, rebounding, everything,” guard DeMar DeRozan said. “It definitely shakes things up a bit when he is not here.”

Said guard Bryn Forbes: “He’s an elite scorer. Obviously, we’ve got to make up for the points that are not there.”

Without Gay for the second consecutive night Wednesday, Popovich went with a big starting lineup, with 7-footer Jakob Poeltl drawing the nod at center alongside LaMarcus Aldridge.

Spurs enjoy field trip: The Spurs spent their off day Tuesday in Memphis visiting the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King’s assassination in 1968.

Forward Davis Bertans, who is from Latvia, was among the team contingent to take part in the outing, as was Popovich.

Bertans called his first trip to the Memphis landmark “eye-opening.”

Growing up in Europe, Bertans didn’t learn much about American history and had only a passing knowledge of King.

“We have plenty of our own history, with all the wars in Europe and the occupations,” Bertans said. “U.S. history, we don’t do that as much. Everything I’ve learned about the history here is since I’ve been here.”

On top of being a learning experience, Bertans said the field trip also was a bonding experience for a team with eight new players.

“It’s just good to still be together with the same guys, but at the same time spend some time not thinking about basketball,” Bertans said. “Otherwise, most guys would just be sitting in the room not doing anything.”

No comment: Popovich entered Wednesday with a chance to pass Utah legend Jerry Sloan for sole possession of third place on the NBA’s all-time victories list.

The coaches came into the night tied with 1,221.

Just don’t expect Popovich to talk about it. Asked about the approaching milestone in his pregame meeting with reporters, Popovich walked away midquestion.

Start me up: Including Wednesday, Forbes has started all 42 games for the Spurs this season.

He is one of only three undrafted players in Spurs history to start every game in the first half of a season. The other two — Avery Johnson and Bruce Bowen — have their retired jerseys in the AT&T Center rafters.

Coming into Wednesday, Forbes was averaging career bests across the board, including scoring (12.3 points per game), assists (2.3 per game) and shooting percentage (46.6 percent).

Spurs guard Patty Mills said he has been thrilled with how his backcourt protégé has progressed.

“Some people might say he’s overachieved,” Mills said. “For me being with him every day, we were waiting for this moment for him to be able to do that. He grabbed it with both hands and ran with it.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net