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Spurs aim to extend home streak vs. Warriors

Jan 4, 2012 - 5:25 PM (Sports Network) - San Antonio evidently doesn't have the Timberwolves to kick around anymore so the Spurs will try to take out their frustrations on another long-time whipping boy, Golden State.

The Warriors have played Washington Generals to the Spurs' Globetrotters for years, especially in the Alamo City where San Antonio has won 26 straight over Golden State, the longest active road skid by one team versus another.

To keep that impressive run alive, however, the Spurs will have to overcome the loss of star swingman Manu Ginobili, who fractured the fifth metacarpal on his shooting hand in the second quarter of the team's 106-96 loss at Minnesota on Monday.

The two-time All-Star, who is averaging 17.4 points on 59.2 percent shooting, will undergo surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks, according to coach Gregg Popovich.

"It's going to be tough for us because he was playing at an All-Star level," point guard Tony Parker said. "Now we're going to have to have everybody pick it up."

Everybody couldn't pick it up in Minneapolis as the Wolves halted a 16-game losing streak to San Antonio. They had not defeated the Spurs since January 3, 2007.

Richard Jefferson and Tim Duncan both scored 16 points to pace the team in Minnesota while Parker had 11 points and nine assists.

The Spurs lost all three games in Ginobili missed last season, including Game 1 of its Western Conference quarterfinals series with Memphis.

"Manu is pretty important to us and we lost him," Popovich said. "We will just have to deal with it."

Second-year swingman James Anderson and promising rookie Kawhi Leonard - the 15th overall pick in June's draft - will likely garner more playing time in Ginobili's absence. Meanwhile, the team also recalled guard Gary Neal from a rehabilitation assignment with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League and signed forward Ike Diogu as it prepares for life with its Argentine star.

San Antonio, which is starting a three-game homestand tonight, is a perfect 3-0 in the Alamo City this season vs. 0-2 on the road. The Spurs will finish the residency by hosting Dallas and Denver.

The Warriors, meanwhile, opened a three-game road trip on a losing note in Phoenix on Monday. Steve Nash netted 13 of his game-high 21 points in the fourth quarter to go with nine assists in that one, as the Suns topped Golden State, 102-91, at US Airways Center.

Monta Ellis returned from a one-game absence to attend his grandmother?s funeral to lead the Warriors with 18 points and 11 assists, while Dominic McGuire had 14 points and nine boards.

Brandon Rush scored 13 and Ekpe Udoh netted 11 for Golden State, which played without star power forward David Lee.

"You know, disappointing loss," Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. "Put teams on the foul line, turn the basketball over and give up 16 offensive rebounds, it's a recipe for disaster. I understand this is a process but this is a 66-game season and we need to speed up the process."

Lee, who was a late scratch on Monday after being hospitalized with an undisclosed illness, is probable for tonight.

The Warriors, who have lost 12 straight overall to the Spurs, last won at San Antonio on Feb. 14 1997.