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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| MAGIC | 27 | 29 | 22 | 22 | 100 |
| SPURS | 29 | 25 | 33 | 25 | 112 |
Recap:
SAN ANTONIO -- Manu Ginobili scored 43 points, his fourth 30-plus game since replacing Tony Parker in the starting lineup last month, leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 112-100 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.
Tim Duncan had 23 points and the Spurs temporarily pulled themselves out of the last playoff seed in the West, where San Antonio is bunched up with Portland and Oklahoma City in a race to avoid the No. 8 spot.
Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus had 18 apiece for Orlando. The Magic's three-game winning streak ended in Texas one night after beating Dallas.
It was a season high for Ginobili, who had his first 40-point game in more than two years. He also had six rebounds and five assists.
The Spurs have yet to clinch a playoff berth, but with seven games left and a seven-game lead over Memphis, they inched closer. And they did it by beating three of the best teams in the East in their last five games, starting with a win over Cleveland and another at Boston.
Dwight Howard had 10 points and six rebounds, but was 2 of 11 from the foul line and ended a rough game by fouling out with 3:06 remaining.
Fittingly, it was Ginobili who drew the foul.
He then stepped up and sank two of his 14 free throws, missing just three on the night. When Ginobili hit his last two foul shots with 49 seconds remaining, a chant of ``M-V-P!'' swept through the AT&T Center.
For the Spurs? Without question.
It looked bleak for already-underachieving San Antonio when Parker broke his right hand March 6, but Ginobili has carried the Spurs to a 10-5 record without their starting point guard.
Matt Bonner added 15 points for the Spurs. Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick had 15 apiece for Orlando.
Duncan took a seat early after being whistled for three fouls in the first 4 1/2 minutes of the game. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich didn't last much longer.
Official Tony Brown ejected him just before halftime while Popovich - who picked up his first technical arguing Duncan's early fouls - protested that Ginobili deserved a foul shot after being bumped by Howard on a jumper.
But Ginobili hardly needed help finding ways to score.
By midway through the third quarter, Ginobili already had nearly half of San Antonio's 70 points. The Spurs call it ``Manu being Manu'' - drawing a foul on 3-pointers, pulling up for jumpers and recklessly barreling toward the basket.
Manu has been Manu a lot lately.
Since being thrust into the starting lineup 14 games ago, Ginobili is averaging 25 points - about 11 better than what he gave the Spurs each night before Parker's injury.
Ginobili's resurgence is likely benefiting him as much as the Spurs. The 32-year-old will be a free agent this summer and is proving he's still one of the league's most dynamic guards after injuries slowed him down the past couple years.
Ginobili was 13 of 25 from the field and hit three 3-pointers.
NOTES: Ginobili's last 40-point game was Feb. 21, 2008, when he scored 44 in a win over Minnesota. ... Popovich said before the game that Parker is still on track to return as early as the final week of the regular season.
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POSTGAME HIGHLIGHTS:
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Preview:
The San Antonio Spurs, as of late, have been a huge help to the Orlando Magic’s strive for the best playoff seed possible. They defeated both the Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics to end this past week, allowing the Magic to move 4.5 games ahead of Boston for second place in the East and giving Orlando a slim chance of capturing the No. 1 seed.
But on Friday, the Magic will try to halt the Spurs’ recent success when they visit southern Texas on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
The Spurs have looked far different from what the Magic saw the last time these two teams played. On March 17, Tim Duncan shot a career-worst 1-of-10 from the field, finishing with five points, in an Orlando victory.
In San Antonio’s last two games, on the other hand, Manu Ginobili has been absolutely sensational. The Argentinean erupted for 30 points against the Cavs and 28 versus the Celtics.
"Manu's been playing great for the last month," Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's basically taken over the team. He's been the same Manu we've had when we won championships, so you know without Tony [Parker] it's really important for somebody to step up like that and he's done it."
Parker, meanwhile, will miss the rest of the regular season as he recovers from a broken right hand. San Antonio, nevertheless, has been successful despite his absence. George Hill has filled into the starting point guard role nicely, scoring in double figures in all but one game in March.
The other pleasant surprise is DeJuan Blair, who was a steal for the Spurs when they selected him 37th overall in this past year's NBA Draft. He has played in every one of San Antonio's games during his rooke season.
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Game Notes:
Apr. 2 @ San Antonio: Orlando is 14-28 all-time vs. San Antonio (10-11 at home, 4-17 on the road) during the regular season, including 1-0 this season (see recap below)…The Magic went 2-0 last season against the Spurs...The Magic have lost 11 of the last 17 meetings in the series...The Magic have lost six of the last 10 matchups at home, and 14 of the last 17 on the road…For last season’s stats and Magic career numbers vs. San Antonio, see p. 286 of the media guide…Mar. 17 vs. San Antonio – Magic 110, Spurs 84: Vince Carter poured in a game-high 24 points, as Orlando routed San Antonio, 110-84, at a sold-out Amway Arena. Rashard Lewis netted 20 points, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Richard Jefferson led the Spurs with 20 points. Tim Duncan was held to one of the worst nights of his NBA career, tallying just five points on 1-of-10 shooting. The Magic shot 52.1 percent, was 10-of-23 from three-point range and dished out 24 assists.
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. SPURS: 38 pts., Tracy McGrady (@ San Antonio, 1-20-01)
BEST ALL-TIME SCORING PERFORMANCE VS. MAGIC: 47 pts., Tim Duncan (@ Orlando, 12-5-03)
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