Report: Spurs PG Parker expected to play

The San Antonio Spurs expect injured point guard Tony Parker to play Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday against the Miami Heat, according to the San Antonio Express-News.

Parker sprained an ankle during Game 4 of the Western Conference finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder and sat out the second half of the series-clinching Game 6.

“He came to me with about eight minutes on the clock (before the second half) and said he couldn’t go,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the game. “He couldn’t cut. He was limping on it. He couldn’t cut sideways or forward really.”

The Spurs were able to prevail without Parker, but he is averaging 17.2 points and 4.9 assists in the playoffs.

Yahoo Sports earlier reported that the Spurs were hopeful Parker would be ready for the NBA Finals.

An official update may not come until Tuesday when Popovich meets with the media for the first time since Saturday when San Antonio eliminated Oklahoma City from the playoffs.

During the regular season, Parker averaged 16.7 points and 5.7 assists while shooting 50 percent from the field in 60 games. Before the ankle injury, Parker strained his left hamstring during the series-clinching Game 5 of the second round against the Portland Trail Blazers.