A potentially huge development in Game 6 between the Spurs and the Thunder was revealed as the teams were set to start the second half, with Tony Parker being ruled out for the rest of the game due to soreness in his left ankle.
The Thunder were leading 49-42 at the end of the first half, and Parker had scored eight points on 3-of-6 shooting in 19 minutes of action.
Corey Joseph got the third quarter start in Parker’s place.
It’s worth wondering if this decision was made with a potential Game 7 in mind, given the way this series has unfolded with the home teams ultimately pulling away for large margins of victory.
Then again, all season long the Spurs have figured out ways to win when sitting their starters. It’ll be the tallest of tasks in an elimination game on the road against a very good Thunder team, but if anyone can pull it off, it would be this San Antonio team.