National Basketball Association

On eve of OKC showdown, Spurs get healthy dose of good news

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

That giant gust of wind you felt Sunday wasn't Mother Nature. It was the residents of San Antonio and citizens of Spurs Nation breathing a giant sigh of relief.

With Game 1 of the Western Conference final against Oklahoma City tipping off on Monday, the always-dependable Spurs face one giant question mark. The health of Tony Parker, who played only 10 minutes in the Spurs' series clincher over Portland last Wednesday because of a Grade 1 strained hamstring.

Then this happened Sunday.

Tony Parker says he expects to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. pic.twitter.com/gXJU7xDG1Q
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) May 18, 2014

This comes on the heels of last week's interview with the San Antonio Express-News, where Parker said, "It's OK; not too bad. Not as bad as the NBA Finals. NBA Finals was a Grade 2. This one is Grade 1. So should be fine for Monday."

When compared to the Thunder's health — power forward Serge Ibaka is expected to miss the remainder of the postseason with a calf injury — it looks like the Spurs' advantage spans beyond just home court.