Ginobili Returns From Injury, Leads Spurs Past Clippers, 88-82

January 7, 2008 6:14 a.m. EST

Los Angeles, CA (AHN) - The defending champion Spurs brought back their own "Big 3" of Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili right into perfection, and San Antonio held off the Los Angeles Clippers with an 88-82 victory at Staples Center on Sunday.

With Ginobili returning to action after missing the last five games, the Spurs played a cohesive unit resembling the form which catapulted them to winning last year's crown. Against a pesky Clippers five, San Antonio flashed its defensive might down the stretch and called on its vaunted trio to finish off its opponent.

Parker led all scorers with 23 points, including a crucial three-pointer that put the Spurs on top by two in the last five minutes of the game. Duncan scored 17 and hauled down 17 boards and Ginobili came off the bench to finish with 23 points, 12 in the pivotal fourth period.

"I was feeling good all game long. I just didn't make the shots that I usually make, but I just stayed patient and let it come to me," Ginobili told The Associated Press.

The win was San Antonio's second straight after a close 97-93 win against New York although it had gone just 6-6 in its last 12. The Spurs still lead the West with a 23-9 mark and Ginobili's return could not have arrived at a better time with upcoming games against Golden State and Detroit on tap.

"He's a great guy to make things happen and find open shots for people. And we missed that the last few games," Duncan said of the Argentinian guard.

The Clippers were still in the thick of things until Parker's trey made it 76-74, midway in the final period. That set up the Clippers' demise as Parker led the charge to help the Spurs erect an 85-77 lead with three minutes left in the game.

Coach Mike Dunleavy said that the free throw shooting made the difference and was a huge disadvantage for the Clippers.

"I thought our guys played well," he said. "We held them to 40 percent shooting. We had some good ball movement, but the difference in the game was the free throw line."

The Spurs made 25 of 36 shots from the line while the Clippers only got to the stripe 12 times and made eight.

Chris Kaman led Los Angeles with 20 points and 14 rebounds, rookie Al Thornton finished with 17 and Corey Maggette added 14.