Spurs' Tony Parker (hamstring) was 'not 100 percent' in Game 4 loss to Heat

Tony Parker said that he was at less than 100 percent in Game 4. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images Sport) SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs guard Tony Parker took the court
Spurs' Tony Parker (hamstring) was 'not 100 percent' in Game 4 loss to Heat
Spurs' Tony Parker (hamstring) was 'not 100 percent' in Game 4 loss to Heat /

Tony Parker said that he was at less than 100 percent in Game 4. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images Sport)

Tony Parker said that he was at less than 100 percent in Game 4.

SAN ANTONIO -- Spurs guard Tony Parker took the court for Game 4 of the Finals against the Heat on Thursday despite a strained right hamstring but conceded afterward that the injury limited his effectiveness.

"Tonight, I was not 100 percent," he said.

The five-time All-Star finished with 15 points (on 7-for-16 shooting), nine assists and four rebounds in 32 minutes, but he went scoreless in the second half as Miami pulled away for a 109-93 victory to even the series at two games apiece.

Parker said his hamstring began to bother him as the game wore on.

"It was kind of weak," Parker said of his hamstring. "I didn't know what to expect. The first three or four minutes I was testing it and the first half, it felt OK. The second half, I think I got fatigued a little bit. Overall, I'm just happy I didn't make it worse. That was the goal, to try to not get hurt."

The injury, sustained during San Antonio's Game 3 victory, required an MRI on Wednesday. The test revealed that Parker had suffered a Grade-1 strain, the lowest level of injury, and that he hadn't suffered any additional damage. Parker sat out practice on Wednesday and told reporters he wasn't sure whether he was going to play; he was officially listed as day-to-day. After shootaround on Thursday morning, Parker committed to playing in Game 4. He now has two off days before Game 5 on Sunday in San Antonio.

"It's going to be huge for me," he said of the extra rest day. "[I] definitely got fatigued in the second half. Those two days, I'm going to make sure I do a lot of treatment and get to 100 percent. ... By Sunday, that's my goal, to be good to go."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Parker was "fine" and credited Miami's defense for Parker's lack of production down the stretch. The Heat recorded 13 steals and seven blocks on the night as the Spurs committed a series-high 18 turnovers. Parker turned the ball over three times.

"Miami did a great job on [Parker]," Popovich said. "They doubled, they got it out of his hands and other people had to play. They did a great job defensively on him."

The series will shift to Miami for Game 6 on Tuesday.

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Ben Golliver
BEN GOLLIVER

Ben Golliver is a staff writer for SI.com and has covered the NBA for various outlets since 2007. The native Oregonian and Johns Hopkins University graduate currently resides in Los Angeles.