Spurs 111, Warriors 96
Manu Ginobili scored 28 points, and Tony Parker added 17 points and 15 assists as the San Antonio Spurs overcame an injury to Tim Duncan to top the visiting Golden State Warriors 111-96 on Monday.
Steve Novak chipped in 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench and Richard Jefferson scored 12 for the Spurs (57-13), who have won three straight.
San Antonio decided to give Duncan a full day off Saturday, and scratched him from the lineup entirely to rest before the playoffs. He was back in the starting lineup Monday but not for long as he came down awkwardly four minutes into the first quarter and grabbed his left ankle.
X-rays came back negative on the All-Star forward, and the injury was diagnosed as a sprain.
San Antonio led by as much as 86-67 late in the third quarter before the Warriors made a brief run and got within 93-86 on Dorell Wright’s jumper with 5:41 left in the game. But Ginobili responded with a 3-pointer to spark a 7-0 burst and put the game away.
Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry combined for only 18 points on 7-of-21 shooting for Golden State (30-41), which has dropped five in a row.