Pop: Parker to miss about a week with knee injury

The San Antonio Spurs will be without point guard Tony Parker for at least the next couple of games.

Parker will be sidelined "a week or so" with a right knee injury, head coach Gregg Popovich told reporters Friday, according to Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News.

Popovich said Parker's been dealing with the injury since opening night against the Golden State Warriors on Oct. 25, which would help explain the 34-year-old's woeful start to the season.

"He hurt his knee against Golden State," Popovich said. "He hyper-extended it and it's just bruised basically, so we are giving him time to heal."

Through four games, Parker is averaging 5.5 points and four assists, while shooting 33.3 percent from the field. His backup, Patty Mills, who will almost certainly slide into the starting lineup in Parker's absence, has been far more effective. Mills has averaged 12.2 points and 2.6 assists in 21 minutes off the bench, with a .512/.500/1.000 shooting split and just three total turnovers in five games.

The Spurs have been 39.2 points per 100 possessions better with Mills on the floor.