The San Antonio Spurs have a big game Tuesday night against the 21-7 Houston Rockets. But that didn’t stop Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich from showing his respect to Craig Sager, who passed away at age 65 after a long battle with leukemia.

Pop traveled to Atlanta to attend Sager’s memorial service, where Turner Sports’ Ernie Johnson delivered a heartfelt speech in memory of his good friend and longtime coworker. The Spurs play the Rockets at 8 p.m. ET. A non-stop flight from Atlanta to Houston takes about two hours and 15 minutes.

"There's no way to gauge the days we have, no way to know how long...

But know this Craig, we'll do our best to live 'em #SagerStrong." pic.twitter.com/63ktUzU1rs — NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 20, 2016

NBA TV’s broadcast showed Popovich during Johnson’s poetic tribute to Sager during the service.

“In honesty, we weren’t surprised that Craig returned to work. For all of us to see him on the sideline was a perk,” Johnson rhymed. “To see him interviewing Pop, Rick Carlisle or Doc, Sages was back and using every second of the clock. “I watched him work a playoff game, fly home and, right away, have chemo, board a flight and hit the sidelines the next day.” “In each NBA city, there were t-shirts that became signs. As admiration freely flowed, arenas became shrines. It truly was miraculous, his will, his fight, his grit. It’s as if he said, ‘Well, you’re cancer, huh? Well, I don’t give a [darn].’”

If there was one thing Sager hung his hat on, it was forging a relationship with Popovich, who is notorious among media members for being incredibly tight-lipped during interviews. Pop often delivered one-word retorts to reporters searching for answers during breaks.

But Popovich admired Sager and even opened up to him from time to time.

Popovich was visibly shaken when he first heard the news of Sager’s passing. He delivered one of his most passionate speeches of the year, encouraging the public to live life more like the storied sideline reporter.

#Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was shaken up on the passing of Craig Sager. Didn't take any questions afterward. pic.twitter.com/cHvzH3R8vb — Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 16, 2016