SAN ANTONIO — Spurs guard Tony Parker said Saturday the strained right hamstring that wore him down this week could tear “any time now” heading into Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.
But he’s giving no thought to letting the injury properly heal.
“If it was the regular season, I would be resting like 10 days,” Parker said. “But now it’s the NBA Finals. If it gets a tear, it’s life.”
It would also deal a major blow to the Spurs’ chances of winning this title.
Yet despite the blunt assessment of his hamstring, the All-Star told reporters he is getting stronger on the eve of San Antonio’s final home game Sunday night. Parker said he is confident, staying disciplined with treatment and still aspires to be “close to 100 percent” by tipoff.
That’s exactly how the 31-year-old point guard looked to start Game 4 on Thursday night, two days after straining the hamstring in a blowout win. But Parker faded badly after a sizzling start, going scoreless in the second half while the Heat pulled away and tied the series 2-all, reclaiming home-court advantage.
Parker acknowledged feeling fatigued as Game 4 dragged on. His scoring average in the Finals has dipped to 13.8 points after arguably the best season of his 12-year career.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich downplayed the severity of Parker’s injury and the struggles of another of his Big Three, guard Manu Ginobili, who is shooting a career-worst 38 percent in the playoffs but whose need to pick up the slack heightens when Parker is ailing.
“They’re fine,” Popovich said Saturday.