Report: Tony Parker likely out for the rest of playoffs (leg)
By John Buhler
San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker will likely have to miss the rest of the NBA Playoffs to have season-ending surgery on his leg he hurt in Game 2.
Though the San Antonio Spurs throttled the in-state rival Houston Rockets 121-96 in Game 2 of the 2017 Western Conference Semifinals on Wednesday night, San Antonio’s NBA title aspirations seem to have taken a turn for the worse. Point guard Tony Parker had to be helped off the court after injuring his knee in the second half.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical of Yahoo! Sports, “San Antonio’s Tony Parker is undergoing an MRI on his left leg [Thursday morning], but team expects Parker will need season-ending surgery.”
Parker will be turning 35 in a few weeks and is clearly past his prime as a starting point guard, but this is devastating news for the Spurs’ chances to win it all. San Antonio does have one of the better backup point guards in the NBA in Patty Mills, but now rookie Dejounte Murray will have to play impactful minutes for the rest of the Spurs’ time in the NBA Playoffs.
Sources: San Antonio's Tony Parker is still undergoing an MRI on left leg now, but team expects Parker will need season-ending surgery.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 4, 2017
The Spurs may have the best culture in basketball, but perhaps they have made a mistake in bringing back high-priced veterans that are clearly on the decline. Parker and sixth man Manu Ginobili are Springfield bound in their own right, but these guys were bound to break down eventually.
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Though the Spurs have the team identity to win a game, or two, on the road in Houston, getting blown out at home in Game 1 makes San Antonio especially vulnerable to lose in the second round for the second straight season. Expect this series to go six or seven games, but having Parker likely sidelined indefinitely gives Houston a huge edge in this best-of-seven.