11:32am: The pre-MRI diagnosis is a partial or full tear of the quadriceps tendon with surgery needed either way, tweets Sam Amick of USA Today.
9:41am: MRI results aren’t complete, but the Spurs expect Parker to need season-ending surgery, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical.
8:44 am: Tony Parker will undergo an MRI today after leaving Wednesday’s game with a left knee injury, writes Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News.
Parker had to be carried off the court after suffering a non-contact injury early in the fourth quarter. Post-game comments from the Spurs locker room indicated that the veteran point guard may be looking at an extended absence.
“You kind of know we’re not going to see him any time soon,” Manu Ginobili said.
“It’s not good,” added coach Gregg Popovich.
The Spurs responded with a 21-5 run after the injury to take Game 2 and even the series, but their playoff prospects look shaky without Parker in the lineup. He has been a productive force through eight postseason games, averaging 15.9 points per night. If the injury turns out to be serious, Patty Mills is expected to take his place in the starting lineup.
“There is an empty feeling there for sure,” Mills said after the game. “We talked amongst ourselves about keeping at it. Guys are ready to step up and make an impact, that’s for sure.”
Parker, 34, has been with San Antonio throughout his 16-year NBA career and has been a starter since joining the organization in 2001. He has one more season left on his current contract at nearly $15.5MM.
Parker used to be great not any longer. Mills will hold it down
I love my Spurs and Patty but he is a SG and don’t play the point well for extended periods of time.