SAN ANTONIO -- Tony Parker plans to play in Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Cordy Glenn Bengals Jersey . The San Antonio Spurs open their rematch with the Miami Heat on Thursday, and their star point guard is nursing a balky left ankle. "Hes getting better every day, and I expect him to play," coach Gregg Popovich said Tuesday. Parker aggravated the injury Saturday, missing the second half of San Antonios series-clinching victory over Oklahoma City in the Western Conference finals. Parker didnt practice Tuesday, but said he expects to be back Wednesday. Parker is averaging a team-leading 17.2 points and 4.9 assists this post-season but has been bothered by injuries the past two rounds. "I always try to be honest with Pop," Parker said. "He knows, but if Im 50 per cent Ill try to play. If Im under 50 per cent, we can argue." Parker conceded the ankle has bothered him since San Antonios second-round series against Portland, although he did not divulge it at the time. "I dont like to talk about when Im hurt," he said. "I played on it for the whole series against Portland. Thats why I think my hamstring got hurt because I was playing on a bad ankle." Parker had tightness in his left hamstring midway through the second quarter of Game 5 against the Trail Blazers, forcing him to miss the rest of the Spurs series-clinching victory. He did not miss any of the Western Conference finals because of his hamstring. But he aggravated the ankle injury in Game 4 against Oklahoma City. "I twisted it again, but didnt say anything," Parker said. "Played on it, and then Game 6 I think my body is like, Thats enough. Its perfect timing to get five days and to get better and to be ready for Game 1." San Antonio was still able to clinch the series without Parker, holding off Oklahoma City for a 112-107 overtime victory to advance to its sixth finals appearance. Parker said he wanted to return for the second half, but was overruled by Popovich and the teams medical staff. "I wanted to play. I wanted to play," Parker said. "Pop was like, No, we never know for Game 7. So I understand where he was coming from, but it was hard to watch from the locker room. At the same time, I was very proud of my teammates. They stepped up big. It was huge for us because I think those five days (off) are big for us to prepare for the finals." Asked whether he would possibly hold Parker out if he was less than 50 per cent, Popovich smirked and alluded to the calf injury that was supposed to keep the Thunders Serge Ibaka out of the Western Conference finals -- but didnt. "Its too early -- hes either 50 per cent or out for the rest of the playoffs," Popovich said. "One of the two . I had to do it. Ill never do it again, I promise. Were done with that joke." Malik Jefferson Bengals Jersey . -- Josh MacDonalds second goal of the game kept his team alive as the Peterborough Petes edged the host Kingston Frontencas 6-5 in overtime on Friday in Ontario Hockey League playoff action. Chris Baker Jersey . QUARTERBACKS Carson Palmer (vs Colts)Last week: 30/42, 419 yards, 2 TDsWinners of their last three and now tied for the final wild card spot in the NFC, the Cardinals are worth keeping an eye on. http://www.officialbengalsprofanatics.com/customized/ . Howard had 17 points and a career-high-tying 26 rebounds in his Houston debut, James Harden added 21 points and the Rockets cruised to a 96-83 win over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. MIAMI -- Ray Allen was somewhat surprised to see how open he was. So was Dwyane Wade, who even took an extra dribble before believing his eyes and sending a 50-foot pass to the best 3-point shooter in NBA history. Moments later, the Miami Heat were back on track. Allen scored 14 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter on a milestone day for the veteran, Wade and LeBron James each added 24 points and the Heat closed with a flourish to beat the Houston Rockets 113-104 on Sunday and snap their worst stretch of results since 2011. "When Ray gets into a rhythm, hes the best 3-point shooter of all-time," said Heat forward Chris Bosh, who scored 18 points to help Miami win for just the second time in its last seven games. Miami trailed 97-92 following a 3-pointer by James Harden midway through the fourth, then finished the game on a 21-7 run. Allen had 11 points during that late stretch, including a 3-pointer that allowed him to pass Allen Iverson for 21st on the NBAs scoring list. It was also the 750th regular-season win that Allen was a part of in his career. "I dont know how I get open," said Allen, who took about 1,000 shots on a practice day Saturday by Heat coach Erik Spoelstras estimate. "When I am, I have to be ready to shoot it." Harden finished with 30 points for Houston, which got 21 points and 14 rebounds from Dwight Howard. Patrick Beverley added 15 points and Terrence Jones scored 12 for the Rockets, whove dropped three straight. "We just didnt play well down the stretch," Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. And that all started when no one seemed to want to guard Allen. Houston led by five when Wade sparked the late run with a 50-foot assist after a timeout that set up a 3-pointer from the left corner by Allen. "A critical possession," Wade said. Allen also made three technical-foul free throws to help his late rhythm. One came after a defensive three-second violation, another following Houstons second delay-of-game whistle on the afternoon, and the third when Beverley was hit with a technical in the final minute. James hit a pair of free throws with 46 seconnds left for his first points of the final quarter, and that sealed it for Miami, which moved back within three games of Indiana for the No. Jessie Bates III Bengals Jersey. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference. Allen now has 24,370 points, two more than Iverson. Afterward, he was all about the win. "Tonight we came out and finished the game," Allen said, "as opposed to letting it slip away from us." The first surprise of the day came about 20 minutes before tip-off, when the Heat announced Greg Oden -- who appeared in his 100th career game, nearly seven years after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft -- would be starting at centre. It was the second start of the season for Oden, who also opened a game against Chicago last month in part because James was unavailable while dealing with a broken nose. Oden had three rebounds in the games first three minutes, and the Heat never trailed in the first half, going into the break with a 57-54 lead. Harden and Howard combined for 15 in the third, and Houston led 81-79 entering the final 12 minutes. "It was a couple of mental mistakes for us down the stretch and they had a couple of calls go their way," Harden said. "Its tough. Clearly, it was a win Miami needed. Wades fiancee, Gabrielle Union, was on her feet to yell and cheer midway through the fourth, and James wife, Savannah, was nearby doing the same thing, almost as if it was a playoff game. Like all other Heat fans, they finally left a game happy. "They see the way weve been acting at home in between games," James said of his wife and Wades fiancee. "We came in with a mindset that we wanted to get this win. It was good to see us have to gut one out." NOTES: Allen appeared in his 1,287th game, breaking a tie with Sam Perkins for 15th on the career list. He could pass Mark Jackson (1,296) and Elvin Hayes (1,303) later this season. ... Houstons Chandler Parsons became the 15th player to log at least 5,000 minutes over the last two seasons. ... Jeremy Lin has been on teams that have played at Miami eight times; theyre 0-8 in those games, though hes appeared in only three of those contests. Cheap Jerseys Store China Jerseys White NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale Stitched Jerseys China NFL Gear ' ' '