National Basketball Association

Short-handed Spurs face Celtics

Published Feb. 12, 2014 7:50 p.m. ET

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BOSTON (AP) San Antonio guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili, and forward Tiago Splitter are all out of the lineup for the Spurs in their game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday night.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich jokingly asked a media member who he would like to see as the starting point guard, before saying that Cory Joseph would get the nod.

Parker, the team leader with 17.7 points and 6.2 assists per game, is out with tightness in his lower back. He played in San Antonio's previous two games at Charlotte and Detroit.

Ginobili has a tight left hamstring and is missing his eighth straight. Splitter is out for his third consecutive because of a bruised right shin.