(The Sports Xchange) – San Antonio Spurs veteran point guard Tony Parker has been ruled out for the remainder of the playoffs with a ruptured quadriceps tendon, the team announced on Thursday.
Parker had an MRI exam after sustaining the injury on Wednesday as the Spurs evened their Western Conference second-round series against the Houston Rockets with a 121-96 victory.
Gregg Popovich, known more for his scowl and scathing responses to media, summarized the status of Parker in three words on Wednesday night.
“It’s not good,” Popovich said of Parker, who was carried off the floor by teammates with 8:52 remaining in the contest. Parker, who scored 18 points, was clutching his left knee as he lay on the floor after missing a short shot.
Teammates and Houston players walked over to console him. He was carried off by teammates Dewayne Dedmon and Dejounte Murray, and did not look up as the crowd chanted his name.
Manu Ginobili said Wednesday night that Parker was in significant pain and unable to bear weight on his left leg.
“It’s hard to see him limping and hurting now, and you kind of know we’re not going to see him any time soon,” Ginobili said. “That’s a tough blow. We shall see. We don’t know.”
Parker missed 16 games in the regular season and San Antonio went 12-4. Patty Mills was the primary point guard without Parker and Ginobili served as the lead backup. Parker is in his 15th season and has helped the Spurs win five NBA titles.
Spurs 121 Rockets 96
Kawhi Leonard recorded 34 points, eight assists and seven rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs rolled to a 121-96 victory. LaMarcus Aldridge scored 15 points for the Spurs, while James Harden recorded 13 points and 10 assists, and shot 3-for-17 from the field for the Rockets.
Cavaliers 125, Raptors 103
LeBron James scorched Toronto for 39 points and became the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer in the post-season as Cleveland rolled to a Game Two triumph.
James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (5,762 points) for second place on a three-pointer in the third quarter. Michael Jordan is first with 5,987 playoff points. He also became the fourth player in NBA history (after Ray Allen, Reggie Miller, Manu Ginobili) to make 300 playoff three-pointers.
The Cavaliers own a commanding 2-0 lead in the Eastern Conference best-of-seven semi-final series with Game Three in Toronto tonight. Kyrie Irving added 22 points and 11 assists for Cleveland.
