The murmur which echoed around AT&T Center when Spurs point guard Tony Parker went down with an untimely quad injury was one that said 'we can't win this now'.
The 34-year-old veteran, who had days earlier wound back the clock with a game-winning performance in Memphis to see his side progress to the conference semifinals, would be forced to miss the rest of the playoffs and San Antonio fans knew how costly it could be.
But as has been the case for the better part of a decade, Australian Patty Mills once again stepped up to help plug the huge Parker hole.
In Game 5 against the Rockets, Mills spent 43 minutes on court, hitting 20 points including five from downtown to help the Spurs to a 3-2 series lead. Two nights later in Houston, and with MVP candidate Kawhi Leonard also sidelined through injury, the Australian was again pivotal scoring 14 points from 6-10 shooting and dishing out seven assists as an undermanned San Antonio breezed into the conference finals.
It's not just these two games where the 28-year-old has been effective. Time and time again Mills has proven to be a go-to player for Gregg Popovich and one who can just get things done when it matters.
This playoff series, so far, has been nothing different.
The Parker absence has seen Mills step up to 25 minutes per game while averaging 11 points and three assists -- all career playoff highs -- which is not bad for a guy who has started just 18 games in eight seasons.
Up next are Golden State Warriors, basketball's toughest assignment. While Spurs fans aren't getting carried away just yet, Golden State acting head coach Mike Brown knows the danger Mills presents and the quality he possesses.
"If the ball is in his hands you have to make sure you stay connected," Brown said. "He can shoot from range and the biggest thing he does is he moves so well without the ball. He's like the Energizer Bunny; you can never relax on him."
Just 12 months ago we saw how Matthew Dellavedova was able to rattle Steph Curry with his speed and hustle play as the Cleveland Cavaliers produced a stunning comeback to win the NBA Finals 4-3. As Mills gears up for Game 1 at Oracle Arena, he will be hoping he can take a leaf out of his compatriot's playbook.
Mills also knows how to score against the Warriors' bench unit having produced a stellar 20-point half earlier this season when Steve Kerr decided to rest a bunch of Golden State stars.
Losing Parker is far from ideal but Mills is proving that the Spurs are far from dead and buried this season. Whatever happens, Mills should be in line for a healthy pay rise.
