From Deseret News archives:
Spurs' Parker out with ankle injury
The NBA's leading scorer rolled his left ankle while driving for a layup late in the first quarter, then winced and stayed crouched on the baseline for several seconds before collapsing behind the basket.
Parker sustained a moderate lateral ankle sprain and will probably be out more than two weeks, said Dr. Paul Saenz, a team physician. An MRI was expected to be performed Saturday.
The team said X-rays were negative.
Parker scored 55 points against Minnesota on Wednesday, leading San Antonio to a double-overtime victory and avoiding its first 0-4 start since 1973. The Spurs have sputtered without Manu Ginobili, the other member of the "Big Three" along with Tim Duncan.
Ginobili, who was San Antonio's leading scorer last season, is still recovering from ankle surgery this offseason and is not expected back until next month at the earliest.
Without Ginobili, the Spurs have leaned heavily on Parker and Duncan for offense. The duo has been responsible for 59 percent of San Antonio's scoring entering Friday's game, and had taken 55 percent of the team's shots.
Parker was 2-of-5 from the field and scored four points before leaving the game. Rookie George Hill replaced Parker at point guard.
Parker entered Friday leading the league in scoring at 33.3 points a game. Duncan was third, averaging 27 points.
SHAQ GETS NIGHT OFF AGAINST THE BULLS: Phoenix Suns center Shaquille O'Neal got the night off against the Chicago Bulls on Friday night, part of a plan to rest him periodically throughout the season.
"The thought process, in some of our back-to-backs is try to give him some kind of rest," Suns coach Terry Porter said.
O'Neal is averaging 12 points and 8.2 rebounds in the Suns' 4-1 start. Porter expects him back in the lineup today against the Milwaukee Bucks.
"Most likely he probably will play, in that type of scenario when they have a post presence. And historically (Andrew) Bogut has hurt the Phoenix Suns in the last few years so we will definitely try to play him (Saturday)," Porter said.
Porter said it took some convincing to get O'Neal to go along with the plan.
"He is very proud and obviously he has had a great resume and so he wants to be on the floor with his teammates and help his teammates out," Porter said. "And in that respect, we have to kind of convince him and tell him to look at the big picture as opposed to looking at the small part of this journey."
