CBC-Sports
 
New licensing option: POST all or part of this article on a web site, intranet or blog.

Ginobili busts out against Raptors defence

Guard scores 18 of 36 points from 3-point range in Spurs' 131-124 victory

Last Updated: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 | 1:17 AM ET

Download Flash Player to view this content.


Manu Ginobili challenged himself and his teammates, saying the San Antonio Spurs needed a 48-minute effort to avoid a third straight loss.

The eighth-year guard made the comment knowing point guard Tony Parker would miss Monday night's visit by the Toronto Raptors with a sprained left ankle.

By game time, the Spurs were also minus top forward Tim Duncan (swollen left ankle) but didn't wilt as Ginobili came off the bench to score 36 points and eight assists in a 131-124 victory.

He posted 12 points over the final 12 minutes on four three-pointers as San Antonio overcame a two-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to improve its record to 3-0 at home.

"I think we're going to score, we just got to play better defence," Ginobili said. "We were talking before the season about trying to be the best team in the league defensively, and so far we're not even close."

Ginobili, who entered the contest averaging 13.8 points but shooting just 39.2 per cent this season, was 8-for-15 from the field and buried six of eight attempts from three-point range. He also drained 14 of 16 attempts from the free-throw line.

The six-foot-six Ginobili took advantage of a Raptors defence that had given up 108.2 points per game in six starts, getting to the basket with contact and scoring from all angles.

He highlighted a 10-1 run late in the fourth quarter with a three-pointer to extend the home side's lead to 120-110.

Missed opportunity

Hedo Turkoglu and Chris Bosh, who finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds, pulled the Raptors to within 125-120, but Bosh turned over the ball on a travel with 26.7 seconds left and the visitors down 127-120.

Toronto, which fell to 3-4, shot 59.2 per cent from the field but had trouble preventing the Spurs from getting to the glass. San Antonio (3-3) had 16 offensive rebounds to the Raptors' five and held a 32-12 edge in second-chance points.

Led by Ginobili, the Spurs bench also dominated, outscoring Toronto 67-40.

The Raptors led by as many as 10 in the second quarter and shot better than 63 per cent in the first half. But Toronto, which entered Monday as the third-highest scoring team in the NBA, couldn't match the Spurs shot for shot in the fourth quarter.

Starter Richard Jefferson had 24 points and George Hill added 22 for San Antonio.

Turkoglu scored 20 points and Andrea Bargnani added 17 for the Raptors, who gave up more than 125 points for the third time this season. Though off to their best offensive start in team history, the Raptors are also among the five worst defensive teams in the NBA.

"You can't give them any confidence," Bosh said. "We did the opposite, we gave them confidence. We gave them points right off the bat. They scored a lot of points."

In the first quarter, Raptors guard Jose Calderon eclipsed the 2,000-assist mark in his 298th NBA game. He is Toronto's all-time assist leader.

Duncan and Parker were injured in Friday's 96-84 setback to Portland and are listed as day to day. MRI tests on Duncan's ankle revealed no structural damage.

Toronto returns home from a 1-2 road trip to host the Chicago Bulls (4-2) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

With files from The Associated Press
  •  
 
New licensing option: POST all or part of this article on a web site, intranet or blog.
 

Basketball Headlines

Iverson out for at least 2 more games
Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson will miss the team's next two games because of the lingering illness of one of his children.
Globetrotters beat hapless Generals — on ice
The Harlem Globetrotters beat the Washington Generals 32-15 in a Tuesday matinee played on an ice rink at New York's Central Park.
Carter rallies Magic by Hornets
Vince Carter had a season-high 48 points, leading the Orlando Magic back from a 17-point second-half deficit to beat the New Orleans Hornets 123-117 on Monday night.
Pacers lose Foster for rest of season
Indiana Pacers centre Jeff Foster confirmed Monday he will be sidelined the rest of the season because of a back injury.
West could return for Cavaliers on Tuesday
The Cleveland Cavaliers, riding an 11-game winning streak, could get guard Delonte West back in the lineup Tuesday against the New Jersey Nets.

Sports Headlines

Senators keep marching with win over Flames
The Ottawa Senators notched their 12th win in the last 13 games with a 3-2 come-from-behind win over the visiting Calgary Flames on Tuesday.
Canucks struck down by Lightning
Martin St. Louis had two goals and one assist as the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Vancouver Canucks 3-1 on Tuesday night.
B.C. Lions owner Braley buys Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts co-owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski have completed an agreement to sell the franchise to B.C. Lions owner David Braley.
Betty Fox, Gretzky could light Olympic cauldron Video
Speculation continues around who will be selected to light the Olympic cauldron at Friday's opening ceremony, with Betty Fox, Rick Hansen, and Wayne Gretzky favoured choices for many Canadians.
Getzlaf 'feels better' but status up in air
An MRI on the sprained left ankle of Ryan Getzlaf shows no significant ligament damage, and the Anaheim Ducks centre is optimistic that he can still compete in the Olympics for Team Canada.

People who read this also read …