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Spurs aim to extend 12-game winning streak

Mar 13, 2007 - 2:18 PM LA Clippers (29-33) at San Antonio (45-18) 8:00 pm EDT

SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Manu Ginobili does not have to be in the starting lineup to be effective for the San Antonio Spurs.

The reigning Western Conference Player of the Week, Ginobili seeks to lead the Spurs to a season-high 13th consecutive victory Tuesday when they look to complete a regular-season sweep of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Coming off the bench during the entire winning streak, Ginobili averaged 20.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists in four victories last week. He is averaging 17.2 points this season.

The league's top defensive squad (89.7), San Antonio has limited its opponents to an average of 82.3 points during the streak. The Spurs have won all nine games when yielding less than 80 points this season, which includes five of the last six overall games.

San Antonio kept the streak alive with Saturday's 93-77 triumph over the New Jersey Nets. Tony Parker scored 19 points, Tim Duncan added 17 with 13 rebounds and Ginobili 12.

Despite their winning ways, the Spurs are just third in the Western Conference, 1 1/2 games ahead of the Utah Jazz. They are 7 1/2 games behind the league's top team, the Dallas Mavericks.

After reaching the playoffs last season, the Clippers are in a dogfight to make a return trip this season. A three-game slide has left them in eighth place in the West, one game in front of Golden State and Sacramento.

Averaging just 81.0 points in five games this month, Los Angeles is coming off Sunday's 98-80 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Corey Maggette scored 19 points and Elton Brand added 11 with 12 rebounds.

The Clippers have lost their last four meetings against the Spurs and their last eight trips here. They shot just 38 percent (30-of-80) from the floor in an 88-74 loss to the Spurs on March 5.