Manu Ginobili returns in Spurs' win over Kings

By foxsports
Published

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Kawhi Leonard had 25 points and 13 rebounds and Manu Ginobili added 22 points in his return from a gruesome injury, leading short-handed San Antonio to a 104-94 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Saturday night as the Spurs improved to 30-0 at home.

The Spurs won their eighth straight and extended their franchise record start to 53-9 despite the absence of starters LaMarcus Aldridge, Tim Duncan and Danny Green.

Manu Ginobili had 22 points in his return from a 12-game absence, showing no physical or psychological effects from testicle surgery on Feb. 5. The 38-year-old veteran fearlessly drove into the lane from the right side of the key in the third quarter, going between Sacramento's Willie Cauley-Stein and Omri Casspi to score on a left-handed layup on the left side of the rim. Ginobili earlier stood in front of a charging Cauley-Stein and fouled the 7-foot center while stripping him of the ball on the layup attempt.

The dynamic Argentine's return was a needed boost with Duncan and Green sitting out to rest and Aldridge out due to a migraine headache.

DeMarcus Cousins and Rajon Rondo had an easier time running the pick-and-roll with Duncan and Aldridge out. Quincy Acy also benefited early, scoring 14 points in the first half on 6-for-6 shooting. Cousins finished with 31 points.

Acy only had two points in the second half, though, as the Spurs' interior defense stiffened.

Sacramento was unable to score in the opening 5 1/2 minutes of the second half. The Kings were 0 for 7 with three turnovers before Casspi made a 6-foot floating jumper with 6:47 remaining in the third quarter. Sacramento finished with 13 points in the third, avoiding matching a season-low for a Spurs' opponent in the quarter when Casspi threw down a dunk with 28.6 seconds left in the period.

TIP-INS

Kings: Rondo had nine points and eight assists in 37 minutes despite a multitude of ailments. The Kings' point guard has a right ankle sprain, sprained right thumb, sprained right first metatarsophalangeal joint sprain and turf toe. ... C Kostas Koufos missed the game with food poisoning. ... The Kings have lost seven straight in San Antonio. Their last victory here was Jan. 20, 2012.

Spurs: San Antonio has the fourth-longest home winning streak in league history, breaking a tie with the 1985-86 Boston Celtics. The Golden State Warriors have won 44 straight home games dating back to last season, tying the '95-'96 Bulls for the league's longest winning streak. ... Simmons made his first career start, filling in for Green. The rookie missed his only two shots, going scoreless in 16 minutes.

UP NEXT

Kings: At New Orleans on Monday.

Spurs: At Indiana on Monday.