NBA - Manu shines as Spurs beat Calderon's Raptors

TORONTO (NBA) - San Antonio won their showdown with Toronto on Monday as Manu Ginobili scored 34 points, grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds and dished out six assists.

The Argentina star led the Spurs to a 93-88 win - their 33rd of the season.

The Raptors (27-23) tasted defeat despite another outstanding night from Jose Calderon of Spain, who had 27 points on 12 of 14 shooting, including two of four from three-point range.

Calderon also had six assists.

The Houston Rockets got 25 points and seven rebounds from China center Yao Ming and Calderon's former Tau Ceramica teammate, Argentinian rookie Luis Scola, scored 11 and also pulled down seven boards in a 95-83 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

The Rockets, who won for the seventh consecutive game, trailed 37-29 with 6:31 left in the first second quarter but edged into a 44-43 lead at half-time on a pair of Scola free throws which took his points tally to nine.

They went in front by as many as 18 points in the fourth quarter and cruised to improve to 31-20, while dropping Portland to 28-23.

Pau Gasol's move to Los Angeles is continuing to have a big impact on the Lakers, who won at the Charlotte Bobcats 106-97.

 Spain international Gasol, the MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship, had 26 points and six rebounds.

Gasol was nine of 11 from the floor and eight of 12 at the charity stripe, while Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 31 points.

The Philadelphia 76ers (22-3) are hot.

Andre Miller scored 21 points to lead them to an 84-76 upset of Dallas at home, the Sixers' fourth consecutive triumph.

Germany's Dirk Nowitzki scored just 15 points but pulled down nine rebounds and handed out seven assists for the Mavs (34-17).

In other games, the Cleveland Cavaliers won 118-111 over the Orlando Magic, the LA Clippers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 96-89 and Golden State beat Washington 120-117.

FIBA