NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tony Parker returned to the San Antonio Spurs’ lineup Saturday night against the New Orleans Hornets, while Manu Ginobili didn’t make the trip.
Parker, averaging 19.6 points and a career-high 8.0 assists, missed San Antonio’s victory over Dallas on Friday night because of tightness in his left hamstring. Ginobili started in Parker’s place against the Mavericks, but was held out of the second game of the back-to-back while he recovers from a hip problem, the latest in a series of injuries that have kept him out of 27 of the Spurs’ first 36 games.
San Antonio signed Justin Dentmon out of the D-League earlier Saturday to back up Parker. Popovich said Dentmon would play against the Hornets.
New Orleans forward Carl Landry returned from a left knee injury that sidelined him since Feb, but the Hornets were without three players who started in their win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night. Coach Monty Williams said center Chris Kaman was sick, and Trevor Ariza sprained an ankle. Jason Smith is serving the first of a two-game suspension for a flagrant 2 foul on Clippers forward Blake Griffin.
