Parker hurt against Grizz, Out for Timberwolves

Tony Parker’s exit early in the first quarter of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies did not slow the momentum for the rolling San Antonio Spurs as they defeated the Grizz 112-92 Sunday evening.  Parker took a hard fall and exited with back spasms and did not return.  He finished with 10 points and an assist in nine minutes.

“They’re going to MRI his back tomorrow,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I’m not a doctor, I don’t know.”

Kawhi Leonard matched his career high in points with 26 which were matched by Manu Ginobili’s own 26, his season high and Tim Duncan added 13 points as the Spurs bounced back from their streak-ending loss to Oklahoma.

“Wins are wins, but all of us want to be the last team standing,” Popovich said. “That’s all that’s really important to about six, or seven, or eight teams.”

The Spurs next face the Minnesota Timberwolves on the road tonight and their next home game will be Friday April 11th against the Phoenix Suns.  Great Seats are still available!

El Contusión’s checklist

For the second time in four seasons, the Spurs will spend a large amount of time without their No. 1 offensive weapon and energy source — Manu Ginobili — because of injury. He has worn the “El Contusión” nickname as a badge of honor in his 10 seasons, but now his proclivity for getting hurt could have a grave impact on the Spurs’ playoff hopes in a shortened season.

Overall, the Spurs are 66-45 without Ginobili — injured or not — isn’t in the lineup. But they’re just 32-29 in the previous four seasons.

Express-News staff writer Douglas Pils takes a look back at his injury tour, which is likely missing some of the injuries he played through. (Note: Records shown are for games missed because of injury):

2011-12

• Broken fifth metacarpal, left hand (out indefinitely)

2010-11

• Dislocated left elbow (1 game, 0-1)

• Left quadriceps contusion (1 game, 0-1)

2009-10

Playoffs: Broken nose (0 games)

• Back spasms (1 game, 0-1)

• Left groin strain (5 games, 4-1)

• Left hamstring strain (0 games)

2008-09

• Broken right leg-distal fibula (11 games, 6-5)

• Stress reaction, right leg-distal fibula (19 games, 11-9)

• Hip contusion (1 game, 0-1)

• Preseason surgery for impingement on left ankle (12 games, 6-6)

2007-08

Playoffs: Sprained left ankle (0 games, Spurs lost 4-1 to Lakers in Western finals as he played with pain and averaged seven fewer points in the series than his regular-season average)

• Strained left groin (3 games, 2-1)

• Sprained left index finger (5 games, 3-2)

2006-07

• Stomach flu (1 game, 0-1)

• Lower back contusion (4 games, 2-2)

2005-06

• Left calf contusion (3 games, 2-1)

• Left calf and quadriceps contusion (1 game, 1-0)

• Sprained right ankle (3 games, 2-1)

• Sprained right foot (8 games, 5-3)

• Bone bruise, right foot (2 games, 2-0)

2004-05

• Strained groin, hip and shoulder (5 games, 3-2)

• Bruised right thigh (1 game, 1-0)

• Strained neck (1 game, 1-0)

2003-04

• Sprained lower left back (5 games, 4-1)

2002-03

• Bruised ribs, right side (1 game, 1-0)

• Sprained right ankle (12 games, 9-3)

With Ginobili

• In the regular season, the Spurs have won 71.5 percent (456-182) of their games when he plays, but the number falls to 61.9 percent (65-40) without him.