San Antonio Spurs: Rudy Gay to have MRI on injured right heel

Following right heel soreness, San Antonio Spurs forward Rudy Gay will undergo an MRI on Friday.

On Thursday night, the San Antonio Spurs lost Rudy Gay to an injury. He departed the game, which saw the Spurs defeat the New York Knicks, with right heel soreness. It was a flare-up of a previous ailment that limited him in early December. This differed from the left Achilles rupture that caused the UConn product to miss most of the 2016-17 season.

Following the game, Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News reported that Gay left the AT&T Center in a walking boot. He will have an MRI on Friday.

As of this writing, the extent of the MRI isn’t known.

Rudy Gay (right heel) was in a walking boot leaving the arena. Scheduled to have an MRI tomorrow. #Spurs

— Jabari Young (@JabariJYoung) December 29, 2017

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Gay’s injury happened just days after the Spurs reached full strength. Kawhi Leonard, Tony Parker and Kyle Anderson all returned from their respective ailments, while other players recovered from minor issues that plagued them in late November or early December. So, depending on the extent of the 31-year-old’s right heel injury, it could be another lineup shortage for the Spurs.

However, given the events of the first two-and-a-half months of the season, look for players to step up. That sets up Anderson, who took over Leonard’s role, to receive extra playing time. He warrants it, too, with some of his best numbers since entering the NBA in 2014. 20-25 minutes per game could be in his future, along with Leonard’s potential “return from injury management,” like Thursday night, which gives the UCLA product extra time.

Brandon Paul could reenter the rotation, as well. It may not result in an ample opportunity but likely slides him up one spot on the bench.

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This all depends on Gay’s MRI, which will potentially be known on Friday. What could the impact of a short or long-term injury be on San Antonio’s lineup?