The Spurs’ point guard played only 19 minutes Wednesday before exiting with lower back tightness (Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)
The San Antonio Spurs overcame a 17-point deficit to beat the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night, but they lost one of their leaders in the process.
Six-time All-Star Tony Parker left Wednesday’s game with lower back tightness after playing just 19 minutes during the Spurs’ double overtime win in the nation’s capital. He finished with four points and five assists. The Spurs play again on Thursday, and with such a quick turnaround, it’s doubtful Parker will suit up, leaving fantasy basketball owners scrambling to the waiver wire to find an acceptable replacement.
Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich is known for resting his stars, but is often ambiguous about when he will do it and which players will be the ones to sit out. Those scenarios are always thorn in the side of fantasy owners, but score one for the fake basketballers this time around.
According to Spurs’ beat writer Jeff McDonald, Coach Popovich has already made his decision regarding Parker, giving owners some extra time to plan ahead:
Pop says Parker won't play vs. Nets. Jokes (I think) about playing Duncan all 48
— Jeff McDonald (@JMcDonald_SAEN) February 6, 2014
Now, until we hear a 100 percent guarantee that Parker isn’t playing, it’d be safe to label him as “doubtful”, rather than “out”, but all signs point towards him sitting. The Spurs are playing the second of a back-to-back set on road and must fly to Brooklyn for Thursday’s 8:00 pm ET tip-off. The Spurs will then alternate game days leading up till the All-Star Break. Also, it’s not exactly like Parker came into Wednesday’s contest with a clean bill of health, either. The 31-year-old has been dealing with back issues off and on all season. He’s also missed three games due to a nagging shin bruise, as well as another with a sprained ankle.
Assuming Pop is telling the truth and Parker sits, a number of viable options reside on fantasy basketball waiver wires. The top choice would be the player who would likely start in his place — fifth-year guard Patty Mills. The 25-year-old Australian flourished in his lone start, scoring 20 points, while grabbing five boards and racking up three steals in 34 minutes. He’s played very well off the bench of late, averaging 12.4 points with 2.0 three-pointers made over his last five games. Mills, who is available in 100 percent of ESPN.com fantasy basketball leagues, is making 3.1 treys per 36 minutes this season.
Two more widely-owned players are worth considering if they are still available in your league. Danny Green, who’s played just two games since returning from a broken hand, is a great option if you’re in need of threes and steals. On the year, Green is knocking down 1.5 threes and swiping 1.1 steals per game. He’s been very inconsistent — evidenced by his 7.3 points per game — but he’s coming off a 22-point, 7-rebound effort on Wednesday and should do well against a Nets team that is ranked 27th in fantasy basketball vs. opposing shooting guards.
Marco Belinelli is the other player to consider. Since New Year’s Eve, Belinelli is averaging 13.0 points and 1.4 three-pointers, and has scored in double figures in 15 of those 18 games. He is having a career year shooting the ball, knocking down 50 percent of his shots from the field, joining LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Goran Dragic, Lance Stephenson, and teammates Parker and Kawhi Leonard, as the only non-PF/Cs to shoot upwards of 50 percent on the season.
Green can be added in 69 percent of ESPN.com leagues, while Belinelli is available to owners in 95 percent of them.