Spurs’ Tony Parker thinks starters will rest vs. Warriors

The San Antonio Spurs have two more chances to play the Golden State Warriors before the end of the regular season, but point guard Tony Parker does not expect any of the starters to be on the court for those matchups.

Get breaking news and SI’s biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.

The San Antonio Spurs have two more chances to play the Golden State Warriors before the end of the regular season, but point guard Tony Parker does not expect any of the starters to be on the court for those matchups.

Speaking on his French-language radio show, Parker said that he believes coach Gregg Popovich will choose to rest his players down the stretch. 

“I think no one will play [against the Warriors],” Parker said through translation. “To Pop, the most important thing is that the players are rested for the playoffs. As for first place, he does not care. For us, the end of the regular season is a good time to rest. That’s why we play hard throughout the season, trying to win the most games possible, to find ourselves in this situation of luxury. We are sure we will be the second seed and we can all rest before the playoffs.”

• Steve Kerr: Warriors’ Andre Iguodala (ankle sprain) could return next week

With eight games left before the playoffs, the Spurs trail the Warriors by five games for first place. With the chance to catch Golden State unlikely and the No. 2 seed already locked up, Popovich has little incentive to push his starters moving forward.

The Spurs have already been resting players throughout the season, and Parker, Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard and Manu Ginobili did not travel to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder on Saturday.

• Report: Yao Ming will be enshrined into Hall of Fame

San Antonio has won 37-straight home games, tied for the record with the 1995–96 Chicago Bulls. However, the Spurs are not expected to handle home games any differently in regards to resting starters.