Manu Ginobili, Tim Hardaway elected into Hall of Fame

NEW YORK -- Argentinian legend Manu Ginobili and former NBA star Tim Hardaway were among 13 honorees voted into basketball's Naismith Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Ginobili, who won four NBA titles with the San Antonio Spurs and 2004 Olympic gold with Argentina, headlined the 2022 inductees.

Ginobili spent his entire 16-year NBA career with the Spurs and together with Tim Duncan and Tony Parker made San Antonio one of the most dominant NBA teams of the early 2000s.

He also won a Euroleague title in 2001 with Virtus Bologna, being named the finals Most Valuable Player.

Hardaway meanwhile played 13 seasons in the NBA and won a gold medal for the USA at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Other inductees named on Saturday include WNBA icon Swin Cash, a four-time All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist in 2004 and 2012.

Cash played on three WNBA championship teams during her 15-year career, winning two titles with the Detroit Shock in 2003 and 2006 and a third title with Seattle Storm in 2010.

Another two-time Olympic gold medalist, Lindsay Whalen, joins Cash in the Hall of Fame.

Other inductees named Saturday include college coach Bob Huggins, former NBA coach George Karl, and referee Hugh Evans.

Former WNBA coach of the year Marianne Stanley was also among those honored.

Enshrinement will take place at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, on September 9-10.

Agence France-Presse

Aldridge, Ginobili rescue Spurs against Celtics

SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili hit a 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining and the San Antonio Spurs overcame Kyrie Irving’s 36-point effort to beat Boston 105-102 on Friday night, snapping the Celtics’ four-game winning streak.

Ginobili set up the winning basket by sneaking into the paint for an offensive rebound with 25 seconds left.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 27 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio.

Irving, who scored a career-high 57 points against San Antonio in 2015 while with Cleveland, created havoc again at the AT&T Center. Irving finished 13 for 21, including 6 for 10 on 3-pointers, but missed his final two 3s. His final 3-pointer rattled in and out as the buzzer sounded.

The Spurs, already without Kawhi Leonard and Kyle Anderson, lost Danny Green in the first half. Green left with tightness in his left groin. There was no update on the severity of the injury.

Pau Gasol had 14 points and 11 rebounds, Rudy Gay had 15 points, and Tony Parker added 11 for the Spurs. The Spurs are undefeated with Parker in the lineup through six games.

San Antonio held Boston to one field goal in the opening four minutes of the final quarter to erase a five-point deficit to set up the last-second dramatics.

Jayson Tatum had 20 points, and Jaylen Brown added 15 for the Celtics.

Boston scored the game’s first 11 points, prompting San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich to call a timeout and make mass substitutions during the run. Irving hit two more 3-pointers after the initial run, and Popovich drew a technical foul.

The Spurs’ first lead on a fallaway 3-pointer by Ginobili at the close of the first half for a 56-55 advantage.

Brown had 10 points in the third, including two monstrous dunks late in the quarter that awed the crowd.

TIP-INS

Celtics: Forward Marcus Morris was listed as questionable while rehabilitating his left knee, but felt comfortable enough during pre-game warmups to play. Morris finished with five points in 25 minutes after being listed. … Boston suffered its first loss to a Western Conference after winning eight straight. … The Celtics are 10-3 on the road, trailing only Houston (11-1) and Golden State (11-3) for the league’s best road record.

Spurs: Popovich would not confirm a report by the San Antonio Express-News that Leonard will make his season debut Saturday in Phoenix. “Sooner rather than later,” Popovich said, repeating the answer he has given all season about the All-Star forward’s return. … Parker has played 36,000 career minutes as a starter, 24th in league history. … Ginobili has played 26,000 minutes in his career, all with the Spurs, the fourth most in franchise history behind Tim Duncan, Parker and David Robinson. … Green has 500 steals and 401 blocks in his career. Green, LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the only players since 2009 with 500 steals, 400 blocks and 800 3-pointers.

UP NEXT

Celtics: Visit Detroit on Sunday night in a battle between two of the top four records in the Eastern Conference.

Spurs: Visit Phoenix on Saturday night in what could be Leonard’s season debut.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Manu Ginobili returning for 16th season with Spurs

SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili is returning for his 16th season with the San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs re-signed the 40-year-old Argentine guard Thursday. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

Ginobili will become the eighth player in NBA history to spend his entire career with one team and play at least 16 seasons, joining Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, John Stockton, Reggie Miller and John Havlicek.

Ginobili averaged 7.5 points, 2.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds in 69 games last season, In 992 career regular-season games, he has averaged 13.6 points, 3.9 assists and 3.6 rebounds. In 213 playoff games, the four-time NBA champion has averaged 14.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Spurs open title defense with win; Rockets spoil Bryant return

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Tony Parker scored 23 points, including a big 3-pointer late in the game as the San Antonio Spurs opened their title defense with a thrilling 101-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

Manu Ginobili added 20 points for San Antonio, which shot 53 percent from the field. Tim Duncan had 14 points and 13 rebounds for his 14th double-double in a season opener, the most by any player in NBA history, according to Elias Sports.

Monta Ellis scored 26 points for Dallas, and Dirk Nowitzki had 18. Devin Harris finished with 17 points.

Following a video recap of the 2014 season narrated by actor and Spurs fan Samuel L. Jackson, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver presented San Antonio’s staff and players with their championship rings. The inscription inside the ring was “Good to Great,” which was coach Gregg Popovich’s mantra last season.

After Nowitzki gave Dallas a 100-98 lead with a fadeaway jumper over Boris Diaw with 1:37 remaining, Parker drained a 3 in front of the Mavericks’ bench off a feed from Diaw. Parker was 4 for 4 from long range, matching a career high for 3s in a game.

Houston’s James Harden scored 32 points, and Dwight Howard added 13 points and 11 rebounds before getting into a shouting match with Kobe Bryant as the Rockets spoiled Bryant’s return to the Lakers with a 108-90 victory.

Bryant’s comeback game got even worse when Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle seriously injured his right leg in the fourth quarter, leaving his NBA debut on a wheeled stretcher. The seventh overall pick out of Kentucky collided with two Rockets under the basket and landed awkwardly.

Bryant scored 19 points in his first game back at Staples Center after missing most of the Lakers’ worst season in a half-century with two major injuries.

Trevor Ariza and Terrence Jones scored 16 points each for Houston.

At New Orleans, Anthony Davis had 26 points, 17 rebounds and nine blocks to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 101-84 season-opening win over the Orlando Magic.

Ryan Anderson, coming back from surgery on a herniated disk that cost him more than half of last season, scored 22 points. The Pelicans’ new 7-foot (2.13-meter) center, Omer Asik, had a double-double with 14 points and 17 rebounds.

Tobias Harris scored 25 points for Orlando, while Nikola Vucevic added 15 points and 23 rebounds.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Manu Ginobili out of Fiba World Cup 2014

MANILA, Philippines – A leg injury has forced San Antonio Spurs veteran Manu Ginobili out of Argentina’s national team when it plays at the Fiba World Cup this August, according to a report on CBS Sports.

Ginobili is suffering from a fibula injury or a fractured calf caused by constant stress to the bone and the Spurs invoked its right to prohibit its players from joining their national teams if there is “reasonable medical concern”, the report said.

Gilas Pilipinas is among the opponents of Argentina who belongs in Group B, along with Senegal, Puerto Rico, Greece, Croatia. Kimbo Maglaya

source: sports.inquirer.net

Spurs celebrate 5th NBA championship

SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs celebrated their fifth title in franchise history by climbing onto barges that floated down the river walk followed by a triumphant rally at the Alamodome arena.

The National Basketball Association champions were greeted by about 100,000 people on the river walk parade and about 75,000 at the downtown Alamodome on Wednesday.

The celebration began at the Arneson River Theater and moved through the River Center extension before finally concluding at the Convent Street Bridge. Players and coaches then addressed fans inside the Alamodome during a special ceremony.

“It is soaking in, but I’m still going to live it up for about the whole summer,” said Kawhi Leonard, who was named MVP of the NBA finals. “I’ve been trying to live the moment. It’s been hard to sleep. Thought I would get some sleep after we won the finals, but I’m still celebrating.”

Some fans began lining up outside the Alamodome in 90 degree Fahrenheit heat five hours before the celebrations began.

The Spurs completed their five game demolition of the Miami Heat with a 104-87 win Sunday night in San Antonio.

They have five championships since 1999 and Tim Duncan has been part of all of those.

Asked if he would be back for an 18th season, Duncan declined to answer on Wednesday.

Duncan has a $10 million player option for next season.

“It’s been too long. Seven years since the last one,” Duncan said of the 2007 championship. “Toward the end of my career, it’s been sweet. It’s a great team, a great bunch of guys, a lot of fun.”

Once inside the Alamodome, Australian point guard Patty Mills introduced coaches and players. Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker received standing ovations after being introduced to the crowd.

“What I think we enjoyed the most is that we’re all friends before we’re teammates,” Mills said.

Duncan thanked former Spur and Hall of Famer David Robinson, who sat in the crowd wearing a championship T-shirt. The two played for San Antonio from 1997-2003.

“I give a lot of credit to David,” Duncan said.

source: sports.inquirer.net

Ginobili scores 16, leads Spurs over Pelicans

SAN ANTONIO — Manu Ginobili had 16 points to lead seven players in double figures as the San Antonio Spurs beat the New Orleans Pelicans 112-93 on Monday for their 11th straight victory.

Tony Parker had 14 points and seven assists, Tiago Splitter added 11 points and Tim Duncan had 10 points for San Antonio (13-1). Reserves Marco Belinelli had 14 points, Boris Diaw added 13 points and Patty Mills 12 to keep the Spurs undefeated at home.

Ryan Anderson had 17 points, Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday each added 12 points and Anthony Davis had 10 for New Orleans (6-7).

Portland’s LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and 14 rebounds for his seventh double-double this season as the Trail Blazers beat the slumping New York Knicks 102-91 for their 11th straight victory.

Utah’s Trey Burke made a key 3-pointer to help the Jazz outlast Chicago 89-83 in overtime — the Bulls’ first game since learning Derrick Rose would again be lost for the season.

Burke, a rookie finally enjoying extensive playing time after spending most of the season recovering from finger surgery, had 14 points and six assists. He also had five turnovers and shot 5 for 17 but was on the court in clutch time directing the Jazz to their second win of the season.

Carlos Boozer had 26 points and 16 rebounds and Luol Deng added 24 points for the Bulls.

At Indianapolis, George Hill scored a season-high 26 points, and Paul George had 11 of his 26 points during the decisive run to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 98-84 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Indiana has won four straight since losing at Chicago, is 13-1 for the first time in club history and remained perfect in eight home games this season.

The Boston Celtics beat the Charlotte Bobcats 96-86 for their second straight victory after Jordan Crawford had 21 points and reserve Gerald Wallace added a season-high 17 points.

Brandon Bass scored 16 points and Phil Pressley had a career-high eight assists for Boston (6-10).

Kemba Walker had 28 points to lead the Bobcats (7-8.

LeBron James scored 35 points on only 14 shots from the field and Dwyane Wade added 21 points and 12 assists to lead the Miami Heat over the Phoenix Suns 107-92 for their seventh straight win.

In other games, the Houston Rockets downed the Memphis Grizzlies 93-86, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Dallas Mavericks 110-96 and the Detroit Pistons were 113-94 winners over the Milwaukee Bucks.

source: sports.inquirer.net