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Ginobili leads Spurs over Clippers

Jan 7, 2008 - 12:10 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- If the San Antonio Spurs forgot how much they missed guard Manu Ginobili, he helped them remember very quickly.

Ginobili returned from an injury Sunday after missing five games and led the Spurs to an 88-82 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ginobili, who sprained his left index finger against the Clippers on December 22, scored 23 points - including 12 in the fourth quarter - and helped his team earn its first road win in five games.

"I was kind of surprised at the energy I had," Ginobili said. "I was very pleased. I was itching a lot to get out there. I was happy to be back. At the beginning, I just didn't care of playing well just trying to be there, but everything went well so I am pleased."

The Spurs were led by guard Tony Parker, who had 26 points. Center Tim Duncan had a double-double, scoring 17 points and grabbing 17 rebounds before leaving in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter after banging knees with Corey Maggette.

"I rolled to the basket and I honestly don't know what happened," Duncan said. "We went knee to knee and, obviously, I got the worst of it. It went numb for a while, but it feels better now."

The Clippers were able to take a 10-point lead at 7:35 of the second quarter, partly on poor shooting by the Spurs. San Antonio shot 35 percent in the first half and was 6-of-18 in the first quarter.

The Spurs, however, tied the score at 42-42 at the half aided by an 8-1 run.

It was the second straight game the Clippers were tied at the half, but unlike the previous contest, they stayed close to their opponent. There were two lead changes in the first half, but five and 10 ties in the third quarter.

"I thought our guys played well," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We held them to 40 percent shooting from the field."

In the fourth quarter, the Spurs built a four-point lead on two free throws and a layup by Ginobili. The Clippers got to within two 72-70 on a layup by Maggette with 6:54 remaining and took the lead, 74-73, with 5:39. But a 3-pointer by Parker and four points by Ginobili helped the Spurs re-take the lead that they never gave back.

"I was just wide open," Parker said. "They doubled Timmy, so I just guessed the ball was going to come back to me, and I just tried to be ready."

Chris Kaman earned his 25th double-double with 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Clippers, who now have lost eight of their last nine games, including two straight.