The San Antonio Spurs killed the Miami Heat in Game 3 after winning 113-77 to take a 2-1 series lead in the NBA finals, but it was not without cost, as Tony Parker injured his hamstring and it could end up determining the outcome of the rest of the series going forward.
Parker led the Spurs with eight assists, and he will have a scan on his leg after leaving the game in the third quarter before coming back and then sitting on the bench later on when the game was out of hand. Parker likely will play going forward, but depending on the severity of the injury, it could mean trouble for the Spurs. Parker has been the best and most consistent player for the team so far this postseason and if he isn't fully healthy, the Heat could get right back into the series.
Parker is leading with over 22 points per game and he has the team poised to win its first title since 2007 and his fourth with the team and teammates Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Parker was amazing in the last series against the Grizzlies and he is the focal point for the Spurs in this series.
"I don't know, I have no idea. We'll do an MRI tomorrow and hopefully it's nothing big and it's just a little cramping or it got tight on me," Parker told reporters. Parker suffered a hamstring injury on Tuesday during a blowout 113-77 victory over the Miami Heat on Tuesday and his status for Thursday's Game Four of the NBA Finals is unknown. Losing Parker, who leads the team with 22.3 points per game in the post-season, could be a blow for a Spurs team who are two wins away from their first NBA title since 2007.
Parker had six points in the Spurs' win on Tuesday in the third game of the best-of-seven finals. Game Four is on Thursday in San Antonio. Parker, who will have a scan on Wednesday, went to the Spurs locker room during the third quarter and re-entered the game briefly in the fourth quarter before returning to the bench with his team comfortably ahead.
"It was just a weird feeling and I just went to make sure I was okay and then I played like two minutes in the fourth quarter and we were up big so Pops (coach Gregg Popovich) didn't want to take no risks."
(Reuters Quotes)
