NBA - Ginobili keeps Spurs on winning trail
NEW YORK (NBA) - Manu Ginobili scored 25 points off the bench and Tony Parker added 23 and eight assists as the San Antonio Spurs posted an 88-78 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night. Ginobili provided the impetus in the third quarter as the Spurs took control. The Argentinian, who has been used in a reserve role so far this season, started the second half in place of Michael Finley and helped San Antonio record an 18-5 run to establish a 61-48 lead with 4:37 remaining.
Standings
NEW YORK (NBA) - Manu Ginobili scored 25 points off the bench and Tony Parker added 23 and eight assists as the San Antonio Spurs posted an 88-78 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night.
Ginobili provided the impetus in the third quarter as the Spurs took control. The Argentinian, who has been used in a reserve role so far this season, started the second half in place of Michael Finley and helped San Antonio record an 18-5 run to establish a 61-48 lead with 4:37 remaining.
Ginobili also knocked down three three-pointers en route to a 12-point performance in the quarter.
Kevin Garnett scored 23 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Paul Pierce added 26 points as the Boston Celtics crushed the Denver Nuggets 119-93 at TD Banknorth Garden.
Garnett was three assists shy of his first triple-double with his new club and Ray Allen added 22 for the Celtics, who have opened the season with three wins for the first time since 1999-2000.
Boston's 'Big Three' of Garnett, Pierce and Allen combined to shoot 28-of-41 from the field to power the blowout - a stark contrast from last season when the club sunk to the second-worst record in the league with Pierce the only superstar on the squad.
Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu scored 24 points apiece as the Orlando Magic posted a convincing 105-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre in the second game of a back-to-back for both teams.
Keith Bogans recorded 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Dwight Howard added 17 and nine for Orlando, who opened the game on a 15-2 run and finished the contest with a 14-4 spurt to secure the victory.
Sam Cassell and Chris Kaman spearheaded a second-half surge to lead the unbeaten Los Angeles Clippers to a 104-89 win over Indiana and inflict the Pacers first defeat of the season.
Playing the second game of a back-to-back, Los Angeles trailed 58-55 at the half but took control of the game in the third behind Cassell and Kaman.
Deron Williams dropped in the game-winning lay-up with 1.3 seconds left to surmount a dramatic game-tying 3-pointer by Lebron James just seconds previously as the Utah Jazz held on for a narrow 103-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Carlos Boozer collected 23 points and 12 boards - his fifth straight double-double to start the season - while James notched his first triple-double of the campaign, bagging 32 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists for Cleveland.
Josh Smith scored 22 points and Marvin Williams added 20 and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the young Atlanta Hawks past the Phoenix Suns 105-96.
Reserve Josh Childress picked up 19 points and 10 rebounds and rookie Al Horford also hauled in a season-high 15 boards for Atlanta, who held a 56-40 advantage on the glass over Phoenix.
Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack scored 20 points each to lift the Portland Trail Blazers to their first win of the season with a 93-90 triumph over the previously undefeated New Orleans Hornets.
Rudy Gay scored 25 points and Mike Miller added 20 as the Memphis Grizzlies posted a 105-98 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics
Andre Iguodala scored 19 points and Willie Green netted 12 of his 14 in the first half as the Philadelphia 76ers breezed to a 94-63 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.
By Nicholas Briggs
FIBA