NBA Playoffs: Tony Parker goes down with left knee injury vs. Rockets (Video)
Tony Parker went down with a knee injury in Game 2 against the Spurs on Wednesday night
Early on in the fourth quarter of the Spurs’ Game 2 matchup against the Rockets, point guard Tony Parker fell awkwardly on his left knee after a shot attempt in the lane. He left the game after sitting out the next defensive possession in pain. He was then carried off the court by his teammates, possibly signaling the severity of the injury.
As Parker drove into the paint for an open runner, a move he’s pulled off successfully thousands of times over the course of his career, he landed at an angle that made the injury apparent immediately. It was not immediately clear what the severity or specifics of the injury were, but Parker’s departure is one the Spurs cannot afford. He had been the key all series to San Antonio’s ability to stay on pace with Houston’s devastating offense. Before the Game 2 injury, Parker was 8-13 with 18 points, 4 assists and a game-high plus-four impact.
The Spurs have made it a priority to fight fire with fire in this series, playing the Rockets at their own all-offense game. Without Parker, that strategy may be too tall a task. The 2017 Playoffs have featured something of a vintage Parker performance, and it was his fantastic and crafty offensive play that keyed a big Spurs run between the third and fourth quarters of Game 2.
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Fortunately, that big lead allowed San Antonio to weather the storm following Parker’s departure. He has not returned to the game, and judging by his painful reaction on the court, it’s unlikely that he re-joins the team to finish Game 2. It will be up to Patty Mills and the rest of the Spurs to finish the final frame against James Harden and the Rockets.
Parker’s status will be worth monitoring as the series continues, especially ahead of a defining Game 3 in Houston. The Spurs and Rockets will meet again for that matchup on Friday night at 6:30 p.m. ET.