Spurs' Parker to miss another game

Jan 30, 2008 - 5:22 PM PHOENIX (Ticker) - San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker, who has been limited recently due to a bone spur in his left ankle, will miss a second straight game and possibly more.

Parker sat out Tuesday's 88-85 loss at Seattle and will be placed on the inactive list for Thursday's contest at Phoenix, the Spurs announced.

Parker is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, which likely will determine how long he will be sidelined.

The 25-year-old is averaging 19.2 points and 6.1 assists this season for the defending NBA champions. But Parker scored only four points in Monday's 97-91 loss in Utah and struggled on defense, prompting San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich to bench him.

"Tony didn't like it," Popovich told the San Antonio News-Express, "but he's been about 60 or 70 percent for about a month. It's not fair to him to ask him to keep going out there when he's the way he is. I want to shut him down for awhile and give it a chance to heal."

Parker also missed four games in December due to a sprained left ankle

The Spurs have lost three straight and are 0-2 on a season-high nine-game road trip.