Tony Parker sat out Thursday against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center, missing his first game of the season. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Parker is unlikely to suit up against Denver on Saturday in San Antonio. After that, his status will be game by game.

Parker suffered a left ankle injury in the Spurs' Nov. 30 game at Minnesota. An MRI exam showed no bone damage, and he had played the three subsequent games. But his performance had suffered, and Popovich chose to shut him down for a while.

?The MRI showed negative,? Popovich said. ?But it's real sore. It became obvious in the Golden State game. Two days of rest didn't do any good. I just had to make the call and have him sit. He buys it. He understands we had to do it.?

Popovich said Duncan would suit up Saturday against the Nuggets at the AT&T Center if he responds well after a workout today and again Saturday morning.

?With his workout (Thursday night), if he feels good again (today), and same thing after (Saturday's) workout, I would think he would be probably suit up. But if he doesn't react well to those workouts, we will probably sit him another game. But he is pretty close (to coming back).?