Spurs at Nets
THE STORY: Manu Ginobili makes his return from a broken left hand and the San Antonio Spurs seek their seventh straight victory when they visit the struggling New Jersey Nets. Ginobili has missed nearly six weeks since being injured on Jan. 2 and coach Gregg Popovich was noncommittal on whether or not the veteran guard will start. The Nets have lost five straight games – the last two to the Detroit Pistons – and are just 3-9 at home.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Southwest (San Antonio), YES (New Jersey)
ABOUT THE SPURS (18-9): Point guard Tony Parker has been on quite a roll, averaging 33.3 points and eight assists over the last three games. Parker had a season-high 42 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 4 and had 37 two games later against the Philadelphia 76ers. The splurge helped Parker earn his fourth All-Star Game trip. He joins Spurs legends Tim Duncan, George Gervin and David Robinson as the only players in franchise history to be selected to four or more All-Star Games. Parker is averaging 18.9 points and 7.7 assists.
ABOUT THE NETS (8-20): Rookie guard MarShon Brooks returned to action in Friday’s loss to the Detroit Pistons after missing six straight games with a broken right pinky toe. Brooks scored seven points in 17 minutes and displayed signs of rust. Brooks has been one of the few bright spots for the struggling Nets and ranks second among rookies with a 14.4 scoring average. He was picked for the Rising Stars Challenge – a game consisting of rookies and second-year players – that is part of the All-Star weekend.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. San Antonio is 2-0 on its season-long nine-game road trip to improve to 5-8 away from home this season.
2. Spurs forward Tim Duncan has a season-best streak of three double-doubles and is averaging 16 points and 14.3 rebounds during the stretch.
3. Nets guard Deron Williams is averaging 17.9 points and 7.8 assists in 20 career games against San Antonio.