Tony Parker’s status uncertain for Game 3 against Clippers
The matchup between point guards Patty Mills of the Spurs and Chris Paul of the Clippers could be pivotal if San Antonio starter Tony Parker is hobbled because of a strained Achilles’ tendon.
Tim Duncan put it succinctly after Game 2 on Wednesday night, saying he was “very concerned” to learn that Tony Parker had tightness in his right Achilles’ tendon that forced the San Antonio guard to depart late during the Spurs’ overtime win over the Clippers.
Parker’s status remained uncertain on Thursday’s off day after the Spurs returned home for Game 3 on Friday night at AT&T Center. They split the first two games of the best-of-seven series and took the home-court advantage away from the Clippers.
However, Parker told the San Antonio News-Express as he walked out of Staples Center on Wednesday night that he would be “all right” after leaving Game 2 with 5 minutes 10 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
“I hope he’s able to play and play well for us,” Duncan said Wednesday night. “We need him for that. He’s a big part of what we do, obviously. So him not 100% hurts us.”
Parker, who also suffered a twisted left ankle and bruised left thigh in Game 1, has struggled in the series.
He was averaging 5.5 points on 23.5% shooting and 3.0 assists in 29 minutes per game. He missed all six of his field goals in Game 2 and finished with just one point.
Parker sat out a game against Oklahoma City on April 7 because of the same Achilles’ injury.
He was sidelined 14 other regular-season games, 13 because of a strained left hamstring and one because of bruised ribs.
Cory Joseph started those 14 games.
Mills shooting lights out
He’s a shooter, and like all supremely confident shooters, San Antonio’s Patty Mills doesn’t waver when it comes to his shooting.
If the first shot doesn’t go in, Mills thinks, the next one will. Or the next one.
The Clippers won’t argue after seeing Mills make 57.1% of his shots, 55.6% of his three-pointers, and average 13.5 points in just 15 minutes per game in the first two games of the series.
“It’s always good when you knock down one and you try to take that confidence into the next one,” Mills said. “But just like any shooter will say, no matter if you miss or make one, it’s on to the next one. Short-term memory is always good for a shooter.”
If Parker can’t play or remains ineffective, Mills could see more playing time.
Mills played in only 51 regular-season games because he was recovering from right rotator cuff surgery.
But that smooth-shooting stroke that saw Mills shoot 44.7% from the field and 40.5% from the three-point line in last year’s playoffs didn’t follow him.
He shot a career low from the field (38.1%) and three-point range (34.1%) this season.
But, hey, he’s a shooter and those misses don’t bother him now.
“Making shots is just the same as missing shots,” Mills said. “They’re in the past now and you just move on to shoot the next one.”
Twitter: @BA_Turner
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