Spurs' Tony Parker out tonight vs. Wolves with knee contusion

San Antonio comes to town with a perfect 12-0 road record while winning only five of nine games at home. That performance has coach Gregg Popovich baffled.

December 6, 2016 at 7:41PM
Spurs guard Tony Parker, right.
Spurs guard Tony Parker, right. (Brian Wicker — Associated Press/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

San Antonio star Tony Parker won't play tonight against the Wolves at Target Center because of a knee contusion.

The Spurs updated his condition in an injury update issued after the Wolves held a morning shootaround at Target Center while the Spurs slept in and rested after they played Monday night at Milwaukee.

The Spurs beat the Bucks 97-96 and come to Target Center tonight a perfect 12-0 and 5-4 at home.

They score 16 points more a game on the road than at home. They're also No. 1 in the league in offense on the road and 23rd at home.

Those are facts that has Spurs coach Gregg Popovich baffled.

"I don't know," Popovich told reporters after beating Milwaukee. "I have no clue. You ask me? You act like I'm the coach and I'm supposed to know. Ask me about the .500 at home. Start with the bad. (It's the) same answer. I have no clue. I really don't."

Parker won't play tonight because of a left knee contusion after he missed two games before Monday's game because of a thigh contusion.

"I think defense travels well on the road," Wolves coach Tom Thibodeau said about San Antonio's road success, even though the Spurs have the league's No. 1 offense and No. 10 defense on the road.

Thibodeau deems the Spurs to be everything (48-minute team, connected on both ends of the court) he wants his team to be.

Busy getting ready for tonight's game, Thibodeau said after this morning's shoot that he hasn't yet seen Golden State guard Klay Thompson 60-point scoring performance Monday night against Indiana.

And Thompson did it in just 29 minutes, without playing the entire fourth quarter in a blowout 142-106 victory.

"I haven't seen it yet, but I want to," Thibodeau said. "It doesn't surprise me. The guy is incredible. It doesn't take him much room to get a shot off and he can shoot it from anywhere. But to do it in three quarters, I want to see it."

While the Spurs rallied from a 15-point, third-quarter deficit in Milwaukee, the Warriors clobbered Indiana 142-106 on Monday night with Thompson putting on 21-for-33 shooting display.

Wolves veteran guard Brandon Rush had a front-row seat when Thompson scored 37 points in a quarter when he did so in January 2015 and Rush was a Warriors' teammate.

But this?

Rush called it even more impressive than 37 in a quarter.

"I think so," he said. "Sixty points. That's 20 points a quarter, in 29 minutes. That's unbelievable."

Rush has missed three more games because of a sprained big toe. He practiced yesterday and he talked as if he might play tonight if warmups go well and Thibodeau decides to play him.

about the writer

about the writer

Jerry Zgoda

Reporter

Jerry Zgoda covers Minnesota United FC and Major League Soccer for the Minnesota Star Tribune.

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