Aussie NBA guard Patty Mills could be in for some extended minutes with San Antonio Spurs after starting point guard Tony Parker will have an extended rest this week due to lower back pain.
As well Tiago Splitter is sidelined with a bruised right calf as the San Antonio Spurs' injury woes worsen.
Both will miss San Antonio's game on Wednesday at Boston, the Spurs' final matchup before Sunday's NBA All-Star Game.
French point guard Parker, who leads the Spurs with 17.7 points and 6.2 assists a game, will be rested as a precaution after soreness in his lower back over the past week.
Parker returned to San Antonio after the Spurs' 109-100 loss Monday at Detroit but the three-time NBA champion is expected to play as a Western Conference reserve as planned in Sunday's All-Star Game in New Orleans.
Brazilian centre Splitter, who averages 8.1 points and 6.3 rebounds a game, has missed the Spurs' past two games as well.
The Spurs, whose record of 37-15 ranks second in the Western Conference and fourth overall in the 30-team league, are also without top reserve Manu Ginobili, the Argentine playmaker who has a sore hamstring, and forward Kawhi Leonard, out with a broken finger.
