The latest San Antonio Spurs injury report features four players. This will be for Thursday’s game vs. the Los Angeles Lakers.
On Thursday night, the San Antonio Spurs will finish a three-game road trip along the West Coast. It’s against the Los Angeles Lakers, the first time these teams matched up in the 2017-18 season. The Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA will host it.
Through the season, the Spurs dealt with a flurry of injuries. It started before the campaign and carried into each month. The same goes for Thursday’s game, as the organization officially revealed its injury report.
Kawhi Leonard (left shoulder strain) and Rudy Gay (right heel bursitis) were declared “out” for this game. Both players have not appeared on this road trip.
Tony Parker (sprained right ankle) was listed as “doubtful.” He suffered a sprained ankle vs. the Sacramento Kings.
Danny Green (tightness, left groin) remains “questionable” to play. His status bounced back and forth for the first two weeks. However, the former Tar Heel did not play in the first two games of the road trip.
Spurs-Lakers Injury Report:
OUT – Kawhi Leonard (left shoulder strain), Rudy Gay (right heel bursitis)DOUBTFUL – Tony Parker (sprained right ankle)QUESTIONABLE – Danny Green (tightness, left groin) pic.twitter.com/O81nZ2kCGd
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) January 10, 2018
The depleted rotation allows for players to step up, as always. That means Kyle Anderson stays in the starting lineup, much like he has with each Leonard injury.
Without Gay, it allows Davis Bertans to get significant minutes off the bench. He broke out vs. Sacramento, with 28 points on 11-for-15 shooting and 6-for-9 from 3-point range. Whether the team was healthy or not, it likely opened more minutes for the Latvian forward, as he potentially usurps Joffrey Lauvergne in the rotation.
If Parker does not play, then Dejounte Murray should get another extended look. Head coach Gregg Popovich keeps Patty Mills as the first or second player off the bench, which allows Murray to enter the starting lineup, even if it means playing fewer minutes than the Aussie.
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It’s yet another short-handed game for San Antonio, something that has become the norm in 2017-18. Adjustments will be made and players may rise to the occasion. Let’s see if they do, when the Spurs and Lakers play on Jan. 11 at 10:30 p.m. ET.