(Best E Casino) - Don't pencil in San Antonio's Manu Ginobili yet for NBA Sixth Man of the Year, but he has to be the leading candidate for the postseason award.
Ginobili, who has started just two of the 28 games he has played in this season, makes the defending world champion Spurs an even more dangerous when head coach Gregg Popovich calls on him to provide a spark off the bench.
The Southwest Division-leading Spurs (23-10) own a slim one game lead over the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Hornets.
The 30-year-old Ginobili recently missed five games because of a finger injury. The Spurs were 3-2 without their top reserve. Ginobili is averaging 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 28 games this season.
He has scored at least 20 points in two straight games and has registered double-figures in scoring in 12 of his last 13 outings. Ginobili has logged 30 or more minutes in 12 games this season.
The Spurs are 13-1 when they score 100 or more points this season. San Antonio is 3-5 when its opponent reaches the century mark.
Two of the top teams in the NBA battle when the Central Division-leading Detroit Pistons visit the Spurs on Thursday at the AT&T Center. It is the first of two meetings between the clubs this season. Detroit is scheduled to host the Spurs on March 14th at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The Spurs were 2-0 against the Pistons last season, and have won four of the last seven meetings in the series. Detroit has lost nine of 10 and 15 of its last 18 at San Antonio.
San Antonio tries to get back on the winning track, as it opens a four-game homestand. On Monday, Stephen Jackson scored 29 points, including 12 in overtime, to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 130-121 win over the Spurs at ORACLE Arena.
Tim Duncan scored 32 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the loss to the Warriors for San Antonio, which had a two-game winning streak halted. Tony Parker registered 31 points and eight assists, while Ginobili scored 20 off the bench for the Spurs, who are 5-5 in their last 10 games overall.
The Spurs will also host the Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Cleveland Cavaliers on the current homestand. San Antonio, which has won two in a row at the AT&T Center, is 17-2 at home.
Parker leads the Spurs in scoring (20.6 ppg) and assists (6.6 apg), while Duncan, who is third on the team in scoring (18.6 ppg), is averaging a team- best 10.6 rebounds per game.
