SAN ANTONIO — Spurs point guard Tony Parker will likely miss two to four weeks with a sore calf muscle, handing the NBA’s top team its first significant injury after coasting all season with unusually perfect health.
Parker strained his left calf in Sunday’s victory over Memphis. He had started every game during a blazing start for the NBA-best Spurs (49-10), who can match their win total from last season tonight when they play the Grizzlies again.
Parker, who is averaging 17.1 points and 6.6 assists, likely will be replaced by George Hill.
Bibby takes less to leave Wizards
WASHINGTON — Guard Mike Bibby gave up $6.2 million rather than stay with the last-place Wizards, beating by one day a deadline that will allow him to sign with another team in time to be eligible for a playoff roster.
Bibby played only two games with Washington after he was acquired last week in the five-player trade that sent Kirk Hinrich to the Atlanta Hawks. He will receive the remainder of his $5.6 million salary for this season, but he gave up his entire amount of the final season of his contract for his freedom.
“It’s surprising,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. “But I guess you have to give the player credit. Sometimes when you’re in the latter part of your career, there’s other things that become important, and so you hope the agenda for him is to win.”
Hamilton, Kuester talking it out
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Richard Hamilton took passes from John Kuester while practicing his shooting, then exchanged a friendly fist bump with the coach when they were done.
Afterward, the two insisted their relationship is improving after a recent talk.
“It was just a great conversation,” Hamilton said. “I think that it was something that we needed. I think the whole thing was a miscommunication from the beginning, and we’re fine.”
Hamilton acknowledged he and Kuester had a disagreement this season, though he disputed a report by Yahoo Sports that said he berated Kuester on the practice court.
Footnotes.
Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison will likely miss the rest of the season with a broken finger that will require surgery.
• The Warriors reached a buyout agreement with forward/center Troy Murphy and placed him on waivers.
