No Duncan? No Problem! Spurs Get Past Jazz 104-98

Manu Ginobili coming back off the bench Friday night scored a game high 37 points, as the San Antonio Spurs got past the Utah Jazz by a score of 104-98. Ginobili had gotten his first start of the year Wednesday night but was back to his usual role of sixth man. San Antonio won the?game despite being without the services of forward?Tim Duncan who missed his second consecutive game due to a balky right ankle.

Utah had two players?who had double-doubles in the game as they broke out on top in the first quarter 29-21 over the Spurs.?Jazz point guard Deron Williams, one of the seemingly endless stream of excellent young point guards in the Western Conference, scored 28 points and a game high 10 assists, along with 3 rebounds. Carlos Boozer returned back to the land of the double-double after an absence of a few games with 28 points and a game high 17 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Boozer though also turned the ball over 9 times, as Utah had 20 turnovers while the Spurs had only 13. The only other player in double figures for the Jazz was Ronnie Brewer who had 14 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.

Ginobili nursing a bruised left hand played over 35 minutes, shooting 9-21 from the field, but got to the foul line 19 times making 17 shots. He also had 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 1 blocked shot, Tony Parker had 16 points, 7 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Michael Finley scored 15 points, and Matt Bonner scored 13 for the Spurs. Jazz led the game through the first three quarters, holding a 52-51 lead at the half, and going into the final period 76-72. But San Antonio went to the line 8 times during the games last 31 seconds, and made all their shots to seal the win. The Spurs are now 17-3, while Utah is 13-7.