The Spurs left the AT&T Center on Wednesday fearing they would not see Tony Parker in uniform again this season. Thursday morning, an MRI confirmed it.
Parker, the Spurs’ venerable starting point guard, has been diagnosed with a torn left quadriceps tendon and will miss the remainder of the postseason, the team announced.
Parker suffered the injury with 8:52 remaining in Wednesday’s 121-96 victory over Houston in Game 2 of the Western Conference semifinals, when he rose for a jump shot and landed awkwardly with no contact. He had to be carried off the court by a pair of teammates.
The team did not announce a timeline for Parker’s recovery. The injury is expected to require surgery, which generally comes with a 6-to-8 month recovery time.
The news deals a severe blow to the Spurs’ hopes of advancing to their first Western Conference final since 2014. Parker, who turns 35 later this month, had been enjoying a renaissance postseason with averages of 15.9 points and 3.1 assists. He had 18 points and four assists in the Spurs’ series-evening victory over Houston before going down.
The injury puts a gloomy end to a rough season for Parker. He missed 16 games during the regular season with a laundry list of nagging ailments to both knees, his left foot, his left quadriceps and his back.
Patty Mills is the likely replacement for Parker in the Spurs’ starting lineup when their series with the Rockets resumes Friday in Houston.
