Manu Ginobili turns back the clock to lead Spurs over Trail Blazers

The San Antonio Spurs turned to a veteran when they needed a burst of energy.

Manu Ginobili scored 14 of his 17 points in the final quarter Monday night to help the Spurs overcome a listless start and defeat the Portland Trail Blazers 93-80 at San Antonio.

“I think we all turned into fans on the bench watching him,” Spurs reserve guard Patty Mills said. “He definitely saved us tonight offensively. Making shots and really doing what he’s done for so long. But to be able to do it this year, it just goes to show his leadership and what he brings to this team. It was fun to watch him.”

Kawhi Leonard added 19 points and nine rebounds for the Spurs, who have won five in a row overall and are 4-0 at home.

Former Trail Blazers standout LaMarcus Aldridge was held to six points and six rebounds, his lowest output since signing with the Spurs last summer.

With Aldridge being held in check, the return of Leonard and Ginobili after one-game absences proved critical.

at Chicago 96, Indiana 95: Jimmy Butler scored 17 points for the Bulls and played tough defense on Paul George on the Pacers’ final possession.

Butler stayed right with George in the final seconds and contested his difficult fadeaway shot, which was well short as time expired, giving the Bulls their third consecutive victory and fourth in five games.

Derrick Rose scored 23 points on nine-of-18 shooting for the Bulls before he was sidelined with about six minutes to play after suffering a sprained left ankle.

Dallas 92, at Philadelphia 86: Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points, seven during a pivotal stretch late in the fourth quarter, and Chandler Parsons scored 20 to help the Mavericks keep the 76ers winless.

Jahlil Okafor had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the 76ers, who have lost all 11 games this season and 21 in a row dating to last season. The 76ers’ last win was over the Denver Nuggets on March 25. They are within five losses of matching the all-time franchise record for consecutive defeats.

at Memphis 122, Oklahoma City 114: Newcomer Mario Chalmers scored 16 of his season-high 29 points in the fourth quarter to help the Grizzlies hang on.

Chalmers, picked up in a trade with the Miami Heat last week, made six of 13 shots, four of seven from three-point range, and four other Grizzlies also reached double figures. Mike Conley score 22 points, Jeff Green 20, Marc Gasol 17 and Zach Randolph 12.

Russell Westbrook scored 40 points for the Thunder, which played its third consecutive game without injured forward Kevin Durant.

Boston 111, at Houston 95: Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points and the Celtics used a 32-point third quarter to pull away from the slumping Rockets.

The Celtics have won three in a row while the Rockets have lost four in a row for the first time since January 2013, when they lost seven in a row.