Report: Spurs PG Tony Parker hopeful to play NBA Finals Game 1 vs. Heat despite ankle injury

Tony Parker has averaged 17.8 points and five assists in the playoffs. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

Spurs guard Tony Parker is hopeful he will play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals on Thursday but did not say he's a surefire bet to be on the court in the opener vs. the Miami Heat, according to a report on Sunday from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

Parker will rehabilitate the sprained ankle he suffered in the first half of San Antonio's series clinching win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night. He did not play in the second half of Game 6 of the Western Conference finals, finishing with eight points and two rebounds in 18 minutes. The sore ankle has been a lingering issue for him since Game 4 of the conference finals, according to the report.

With news at halftime on Saturday that the three-time NBA champ would miss the rest of the game, head coach Gregg Popovich employed a backcourt of Manu Ginobili and Cory Joseph manning the point.

Parker, 32 has averaged 17.8 points and five assists this postseason. The Spurs tied the Heat in the regular season 1-1.

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