Ginobili Spurs Run in Fourth

Manu Ginobili made all four of his shots in the fourth quarter, two of them during a decisive 13-1 run, and the San Antonio Spurs pulled away at home for a 102-88 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night.

“In the beginning I was scared to step on somebody or go to the basket,” said Ginobili, who finished with 14 points after spending the last three games on the inactive list. “That’s why I was a little slow and hesitant.”

Ginobili was sidelined last Sunday in Miami when he turned his right ankle. In all, he has not played in 13 games since Dec. 1 with injuries to his right foot and ankle.

“It’s great to have him back in the starting lineup, to see him out there in the fourth quarter really take over a game and get back to the way he used to play,” said Tim Duncan, who led San Antonio with 28 points and 16 rebounds.

Minnesota got within 85-81 on a pair of free throws by Eddie Griffin with more than six minutes left in the game.

“It was a close game there for a while,” Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett said. “Then Ginobili came in and captured some momentum back for them and they pulled away.”

Michael Finley started San Antonio’s run with a three-pointer and Tony Parker (25 points) made a jump-hook.

Ginobili made a runner followed by a long three-pointer and Bruce Bowen added a three-pointer to make it 98-82 with 2:21 left.

The Spurs’ defense stepped up during the key stretch, allowing the Timberwolves only four shots and forcing two turnovers.

Garnett led Minnesota with 23 points and 10 rebounds, and Ricky Davis contributed 20 points and Mark Blount 18 in their second games as Timberwolves after being traded by Boston.

Dallas 103, Utah 89 -- Dirk Nowitzki shook off a twisted ankle to score 21 points and Josh Howard added 24 at Dallas, leading the Mavericks past the Jazz for their season-best eighth straight victory.

Nowitzki doubled over in pain after getting his feet tangled with a Utah player late in the first quarter. He limped off the court but returned midway through the second.

The injury may have contributed to Nowitzki taking only eight shots, but he made six. He also made all eight of his foul shots.

Devin Brown came off the bench to lead the Jazz with 18 points. Andrei Kirilenko had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Philadelphia 91, New York 76 -- Chris Webber had 21 points and 10 rebounds and John Salmons added 18 points to lead the 76ers to a win over the Knicks.

Allen Iverson, second in the NBA in scoring at 33.6 points per game, sat out because of a sprained left ankle after he was injured in Thursday’s loss against Orlando.

Qyntel Woods scored 24 points and Stephon Marbury added 14 for New York, which lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Seattle 113, New Jersey 104 -- Ray Allen scored 35 points and the SuperSonics held off the Nets, sending them home from Seattle after an 0-4 trip.

Richard Jefferson led the Nets with a season-high 36 points and Vince Carter finished with 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting after sitting out Friday’s game because of a sore back.

Jason Kidd struggled, shooting one of 10 for five points.

Golden State 98, Portland 83 -- Baron Davis had 29 points, 16 assists and eight rebounds, and the Warriors ended a four-game losing streak with a victory at Oakland over the Trail Blazers.

Rookie Monta Ellis scored a career-high 14 points and Mickael Pietrus also added 14 for Golden State.

Juan Dixon led Portland with 21 points.

Washington 107, Charlotte 97 -- Gilbert Arenas scored 32 points at home as the Wizards extended the Bobcats’ losing streak to 10 games.

Primoz Brezec matched his career high with 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead Charlotte.

The Bobcats were missing 73% of their scoring. Brevin Knight, Keith Bogans, Emeka Okafor, Kareem Rush, Sean May and Gerald Wallace were all injured.

Chicago 111, Atlanta 99 -- Ben Gordon scored 10 of his 23 points in the final 2:28 at Chicago as the Bulls held off the Hawks to match a season best with their fourth straight win.

Atlanta’s Joe Johnson scored 32 of his career-high 40 points in the second half as he made 13 of 16 shots in a stellar offensive display that kept the Hawks in the game.

Kirk Hinrich added 22 points for the Bulls.

New Orleans 95, Memphis 86 -- David West scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Hornets beat the host Grizzlies.

Six Hornets finished in double figures, led by Speedy Claxton with 20 points.

Pau Gasol led Memphis with 25 points and 16 rebounds.