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Ginobili helps Spurs edge Bobcats

Nov 9, 2010 - 5:22 AM Charlotte, NC (Sports Network) - Manu Ginobili finished with a game-high 26 points and Gary Neal sank five three-pointers to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 95-91 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena.

Tim Duncan added 14 points and 10 rebounds and Tony Parker finished with 12 points and eight assists to lead the Spurs, who have won four straight.

Tyrus Thomas ended with 16 points and eight rebounds while Stephen Jackson and Boris Diaw each chipped in 15 points for the Bobcats, who are still winless at home through three attempts this season.

With Charlotte trailing 74-71 in the opening minutes of the fourth, Shaun Livingston hit a jumper to cut the Spurs' lead to one. San Antonio quickly responded with a Tiago Splitter dunk and free throw for a 77-73 margin.

It continued to be a back-and-forth game, and Jackson hit a three-pointer with 6:23 remaining to once again get the Bobcats within three. But Neal responded with his third long-distance make of the quarter to begin an 8-2 run for San Antonio, which gave the Spurs a 93-84 cushion with 2:52 to play.

"They did exactly what they wanted to do," said Charlotte's Gerald Wallace "They made alot of three poitners, that kinda broke our back tonight."

Charlotte rallied with a Diaw free throw and Livingston jumper, which cut the deficit to six. After Gerald Henderson missed a three, Thomas got the putback shot to go down on his second attempt, making it a 93-89 game with 29.4 ticks remaining.

Thomas was fouled by Antonio McDyess on the play, and after purposely missing the free throw, Derrick Brown threw down a putback dunk to cut the Bobcats' deficit to two.

Ginobili brought the ball to the top of the key and, with a three-second difference between the shot and game clocks, went to the basket and had the layup drop, giving San Antonio a 95-91 advantage with 4.9 seconds left.

Charlotte called a timeout to advance the ball to midcourt and D.J. Augustin's three-pointer at the buzzer was off-target to end the game.

Behind an eight-point effort from Jackson, the Bobcats held a 26-19 advantage after 12 minutes of play.

Nazr Mohammed connected on a bank shot at 9:18 in the second to put Charlotte up by 10, but the Spurs hit on 4-of-6 from three-point range down the stretch to trim the Bobcats' lead to 48-44 heading to halftime.

San Antonio started the third on an 11-4 run, highlighted by a Ginobili three at 9:14 to give the Spurs their first lead since the opening minutes. Ginobili added nine points in the quarter to help San Antonio take a 71-69 into the fourth.

Game Notes

San Antonio is 8-0 against Charlotte when Tony Parker records five or more assists...Charlotte's 0-3 record at home is its worst start in franchise history...The teams split two games last season...San Antonio has won seven of the last eight against the Bobcats...The Spurs shot 12-of-26 (46.2 percent) from three point range...The Bobcats entered Monday's game averaging 18 turnovers a game, and committed 14 in the contest...Augustin, Mohammed and Wallace each finished with seven points to round out the Bobcats starters.