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Spurs slam Wolves: Ginobili's 21 points in 22 minutes lead easy win
Web Posted: 04/13/2007 11:43 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
MINNEAPOLIS — By the time Manu Ginobili walked off the Target Center floor Friday night, the Spurs guard looked like he had been in a knife fight.
One 18-inch scratch extended from the top of Ginobili's left shoulder to his back. A shorter cut zigzagged above, forming a pattern bloody enough to make Michael Finley wince. Still another gash stretched across the opposite shoulder.
Of course, the Minnesota Timberwolves didn't look so good, either, after Ginobili sliced them up for 21 points in just 22 minutes, helping the Spurs cruise to a 110-91 victory.
Ginobili also survived a hard takedown foul from Minnesota center Mark Blount, allowing the Spurs to meet both their goals for the evening: win and stay healthy. The victory moved the Spurs within 11/2 games of Phoenix for the Western Conference's No. 2 playoff seed pending the outcome of the Suns' game against the Los Angeles Lakers late Friday.
"I think we need to bathe him in some sort of liquid or make him take a tetanus shot," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of Ginobili, who didn't need s ches for any of his cuts. "It's unbelievable. Hopefully, we'll just keep it from getting infected."
Ginobili made three of the Spurs' 14 3-pointers while Matt Bonner scored a season-high 18 points and Brent Barry added 13 more off the bench, giving the team's starters a chance to rest much of the night.
Friday was "Fan Appreciation Night" at the Target Center, an ironic promotion given that the Timberwolves' fans haven't had much to appreciate this season. After advancing to the Western Conference finals in 2004, Minnesota will miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
The Timberwolves also need to finish with one of the 10-worst records in the league or they will have to give their first-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Sam Cassell-for-Marko Jaric swap in 2005. As a result, no one was surprised when Minnesota officials announced this week that Kevin Garnett might miss the remainder of the season because of a sore right quadriceps.
Craig Smith started in place of Garnett, but at 6-foot-7, the rookie forward lacked the length to do a suitable impersonation of the Timberwolves' All-Star.
Double-teamed frequently, Tim Duncan finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds before Popovich pulled him a little more than three minutes into the second half.
The Spurs didn't have Francisco Elson, who missed the game after receiving an anti-inflammatory injection for his sore left wrist. He is expected to play Sunday in Dallas.
Robert Horry, who returned from his own injury this week, started in place of Elson and took advantage of the 23 minutes he received. He had 11 points and five rebounds while making three 3-pointers.
"Those two weeks I was out (with an abdominal contusion) was really frustrating in that you can't even get out there and do contact," Horry said. "We've got three games left, so I have to get some kind of rhythm."
Tony Parker started, but picked up two fouls in the first two minutes. With Jacque Vaughn (eight points, three assists) capably running the offense, Popovich decided to sit Parker for the rest of the night.
"I feel great with Jacque on the floor," Popovich said. "He gives us toughness, leadership. He's worked like crazy on his shot.
"He knows what we're doing and understands the system. He's a fine player for us."
The same could be said of Ginobili. After Finley, Bruce Bowen and Horry made consecutive 3-pointers on the Spurs' first three possessions of the second half, Ginobili helped put away the game, throwing in a short runner, burying a 22-foot fadeaway jumper, driving for two free throws and knocking down a 3-pointer.
Along the way, Ginobili was decked by Blount — which brought Popovich running out of his seat — and clawed by Trenton Hassell.
Said Ginobili: "I guess his nails weren't very well, how you say, polished?"
Ginobili didn't seem to mind the contact. He has struggled with his shot the past couple weeks and wants to be on the court as much as possible before the playoffs to regain some of his rhythm.
"I think I still need to get more minutes and try to get more confident," Ginobili said. "My shot was falling, so I was feeling pretty good. But I understand Pop's position. That's why I didn't say anything.
"When you don't need anymore (scoring) like today, it was smart. But you can't always be worrying about getting hurt. You just have to play."
