INQUIRER Sports

SEATTLE, Washington -- San Antonio's French star guard Tony Parker will be out of the lineup for an undetermined amount of time with a right-foot injury.

The 25-year-old Parker, who missed four games in December due to a sprained left ankle, is suffering from bone spurs in his right heel.

"He was told he was going to get better, but he's gotten worse," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said prior to San Antonio's 88-85 loss to Seattle Tuesday.

"I don't know how long it's going to be, but he's going to sit."

"He doesn't like it, but this is the way it's going to be."

Popovich decided to sit Parker about an hour before Tuesday's game in Seattle. The news stunned Parker, who has been playing through pain for over a month.

"You have to have health to win it," Popovich said of the NBA title, which he has won four times in 11 seasons. "If you don't have all your horses come playoff time, you'll be planning your vacation [early]."

Parker scored five points and three assists in Monday's 97-91 loss at Utah. Parker has averaged 19.2 points and 6.1 assists this National Basketball Association season.

Jacque Vaughn made his fifth start of the season in Parker's place Tuesday against the Sonics, who snapped a 14-game losing streak.