The San Antonio Spurs announced Monday that, following his early departure from Sunday’s home victory over Memphis with back spasms. All-Star point guard Tony Parker will miss this week’s two-game road trip in Minnesota and Dallas due to a sprained facet joint on his left side. Per the Express-News:
Injury report: Tony Parker underwent an MRI exam earlier today in San Antonio which revealed a sprained facet joint, left side.
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 7, 2014
Injury report: Parker will not travel with the team on its upcoming road trip and will be listed as day-to-day following Thursday’s game.
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) April 7, 2014
Parker, who played just 10 minutes in that game, said he is struggling with inflammation, rather than structural damage, earlier Monday through his weekly radio show in France:
“It’s nothing serious. It will take some time (to recover) but I do not know how long. In fact the pain is rising gradually. I decided not to risk the playoffs in two weeks. I decided to call the doctor and (made) a decision together (to have an MRI).
“It is the accumulation, sure. I played for three years without taking a vacation. But the good news is that my body holds up well and there is nothing broken, only inflammation. We will see what we will decide with (Spurs coach Gregg Popovich).”
The Spurs are 9-2 this season without Parker. At 60-17, they hold a nearly insurmountable 4 1/2-game lead over Oklahoma City atop the NBA standings. The Spurs already hold homecourt advantage over every team but the Thunder, and need only two more victories to clinch over them as well.
