Ginobili Keeps Spurs a Perfect 6-0 on Trip

Even though Tim Duncan and Tony Parker are their All-Stars, the San Antonio Spurs needed Manu Ginobili to beat the Indiana Pacers.

Ginobili scored 10 of his 29 points in the final 1:28 to lead the Spurs past the host Pacers, 92-88, on Sunday for their ninth straight victory.

Duncan and Parker shot a combined 10 for 30 from the field, but Ginobili reminded many why he was an All-Star last year by shooting seven for 12 from the field and 11 for 12 from the free-throw line.

Ginobili said he knew someone had to pick it up for the Spurs. Duncan is recovering from flu and Parker’s shot was off.

“We know that Tim is not at his best,” Ginobili said. “He’s still sick, weak. He’s been playing with pain in his foot for a lot of games. We’ve got to step up and take some pressure off him. We did pretty well.”

Stephen Jackson led the Pacers with 17 points.

Duncan had 10 points and 11 rebounds, despite being held to four-for-15 shooting. Parker had 17 points and six assists.

The Spurs improved to 6-0 on their eight-game trip that ends Wednesday at Philadelphia. They also snapped Indiana’s four-game winning streak.

Washington 107, Philadelphia 97 -- Gilbert Arenas scored 27 points to help the Wizards complete an unbeaten five-game homestand.

Washington has won seven consecutive home games and 13 of their last 17 overall.

Allen Iverson scored 33 points for the 76ers, who have lost three in a row and five of their last six.

Houston 90, New York 83 -- Yao Ming had 24 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots at Houston to help the Rockets win for the sixth time in their last seven games despite Tracy McGrady’s seven points on three-for-18 shooting.

Quentin Richardson scored 19 for New York, losers of nine in a row and 15 of their last 16.

Seattle 120, Denver 112 -- Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and Andre Miller scored seven of his 21 in overtime, leading the Nuggets at Seattle. Denver went the final 3:56 of regulation without a field goal.

Ray Allen led Seattle with 34 points but scored only two in overtime.

Boston 102, Orlando 94 -- Paul Pierce scored 31 points and Wally Szczerbiak added 24 as the Celtics broke it open with a 12-4 after an 84-84 tie. The game was played before a one-third full arena because of a snowstorm in Boston.

Dwight Howard had 24 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, loser of five in a row on the road. Grant Hill scored 15 after missing the last 13 games because of rehabilitation from a sports hernia.

New Jersey 94, Milwaukee 79 -- Vince Carter scored 24 points and the Nets won for the 13th time in their last 14 home games before a crowd of about 5,000 because of a storm that dropped two feet of snow in the area.

Net center Nenad Krstic was ejected for a scuffle with Buck center Jamaal Magloire just before halftime, but the Nets got 16 points off the bench from 39-year-old Clifford Robinson.

Michael Redd paced Milwaukee with 27 points.

Toronto 114, Portland 81 -- Morris Peterson scored 15 of his 22 points during a 20-4 third-quarter run at Toronto and the Raptors shot 59% in a game in which they led led by as many as 35.

Portland center Theo Ratliff left because of a badly sprained ankle in the third quarter.

Sacramento 109, Atlanta 84 -- Ron Artest had 20 points, six steals and six assists to lead the Kings to their eighth straight victory at home.

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Boston guard Delonte West will replace former St. Joseph’s teammate Jameer Nelson of Orlando on the sophomore team for Friday’s Rookie Challenge at All-Star weekend in Houston.