CLEVELAND — Spurs guard Tony Parker won’t need surgery on his broken right hand, meaning he might be able to return for the playoffs. He is expected to miss about six weeks.
“They told us they thought it’d be six weeks before he could do anything, so it’s probably four to eight weeks,” coach Gregg Popovich said.
Tests showed Parker fractured the fourth metacarpal in his shooting hand Saturday during a victory at Memphis. He was averaging 16.5 points per game. George Hill is expected to start during Parker’s absence.
Cavaliers resting James
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers forward LeBron James sat out his second consecutive game to rest a tender right ankle he twisted Friday against Detroit.
Coach Mike Brown said in addition to having a bum ankle, James has some soreness in his back. However, it’s nothing he couldn’t play through, Brown said, and if this were the playoffs, James would be on the floor.
• Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison left Cleveland’s game against San Antonio in the third quarter because of an apparent left knee injury. He will undergo an MRI today.
Footnotes.
Knicks guard Tracy McGrady sat out New York’s game against Atlanta because of soreness. He likely will return Wednesday at San Antonio.
• Exiled 76ers guard Allen Iverson said he’s experiencing “tough times” a week after it was decided he would not return to the team and his wife filed for divorce, saying on Twitter it “still hurts” to hear stories about his personal life that aren’t true.
• The Grizzlies recalled rookie center Hasheem Thabeet from the Dakota Wizards of the NBA Development League, while Zach Randolph, Memphis’ leading scorer and rebounder, sat out against the Nets with lower back stiffness.
• Warriors center Andris Biedrins will undergo surgery today to repair a small tear of an abdominal muscle.
• Suspended guard Rafer Alston did not practice with the Heat, and his second stint with the team appears over.
• Swingman Peja Stojakovic left New Orleans’ game against Golden State with a strained right groin.
• Forward Al Jefferson returned to the Timberwolves’ starting lineup against Dallas after serving a two-game suspension for a DWI arrest.
The Associated Press
