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Parker-less Spurs host Pistons

Mar 3, 2013 - 4:02 PM (Sports Network) - The San Antonio Spurs rebounded from an ugly home loss and will stay in Alamo City Sunday night when they welcome the Detroit Pistons to the AT&T Center.

The Spurs squashed the Sacramento Kings 130-102 on Friday night, but the win came at a cost.

All-Star point guard Tony Parker sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of the victory.

"He'll be out a while. It's a good one," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said after the victory.

Parker drove the lane for a layup with under five minutes left in the third period, but he landed awkwardly as the ankle buckled upon hitting the floor.

Parker underwent an MRI Saturday morning and it was confirmed that Parker has a Grade 2 left ankle sprain. He is expected to miss four weeks.

"We'll have to make some more adjustments," said Popovich. "Tony's been a stalwart for us. He's having that All-Star season. As I've said, I thought he was playing better than any other point guard in the league. We'll definitely miss him."

Eight Spurs scored in double figures on Friday, led by 16 from DeJuan Blair off the bench. Two other Spurs - Manu Ginobili and Corey Joseph - had nine points as San Antonio dished out 41 assists on 51 made field goals.

Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter both had double-doubles and Ginobili handed out 15 assists to go with nine points.

The Pistons have been struggling, losers of four of their last five. Sunday will complete a three-game road trip where they are 1-1 so far.

The loss came Friday night in New Orleans against the Hornets. Detroit fell 100-95, but a 9-0 run with just under two minutes to play left them ahead 93-91.

Greivis Vasquez and Eric Gordon made some free throws, then Ryan Anderson converted a layup. Rodney Stuckey had a look to tie it from the 3-point line late, but missed.

"It came down to rebounding and free throws," said head coach Lawrence Frank. "If you look at it, we out shot them and we hit the same amount of three's. We were minus-13 on free throws made."

Statistics bare Frank's argument out. The Pistons shot 50 percent from the field to 43 percent for New Orleans. Detroit lost the rebounding battle 47-40 and Frank was right about the minus-13 differential at the foul line.

The Pistons ended a Spurs' 11-game winning streak on Feb. 8 in Detroit. The Spurs had won three straight against the Detroit and two of the last three at home against the Pistons.