USA - Ginobili, one of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year

SACRAMENTO (NBA) - Argentina's Manu Ginobili has perfected the art of coming off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs.

The forward scored 31 points while Tim Duncan added 16 and 13 rebounds as the Spurs won their 11th straight game with a 100-93 victory over the Sacramento Kings.

The win helped San Antonio match its longest winning streak since finishing the 2003-04 campaign, which concluded with a trip to the NBA Finals against Detroit.

As one of the leading candidates for Sixth Man of the Year, Ginobili is averaging 19.5 points since being removed from the starting lineup 17 games ago.

"I don't know but lately it's easier for me to (come off) the bench," Ginobili said. "I start very aggressive and shots are falling so it makes everything easier. I'm very happy I'm being aggressive. I was feeling really comfortable and I just let it fly."

Ginobili made five of nine from three-point range and was 14 of 25 from the field, adding four assists.

France star Tony Parker finished with 15 points - having scored back-to-back lay-ups in a 9-0 fourth quarter surge which gave San Antonio the lead for good - despite still having soreness from his ailing hip.

"I felt a little bit better and I was trying to get into a rhythm," Parker said. 

"It was kind of hard in the first half, and in the second half, slowly but surely it came back. I knew I had to be aggressive and make something happen."

"Down the stretch I thought (Parker) played pretty doggone good defence," Ginobili said.  "Offensively he got a couple buckets for us and was aggressive.  I think he got his rhythm back as the game went on."

Kevin Martin had 26 points and a career-high 12 rebounds and reserve Corliss Williamson added 21 for Sacramento, who had their four-game winning streak ended.

At one stage, Chicago's Ben Gordon might have been one of Ginobili's chief rivals for the Sixth Man Award, but the London-born forward was playing so well that he forced his way into the starting five.

The production has just kept on coming, and he scored 25 points to lead three starters in double figures as the Chicago Bulls enjoyed a 100-76 triumph over the Orlando Magic.

Team USA guard Kirk Hinrich added 17 and Great Britain international Luol Deng had 15 and 14 rebounds.

Gordon connected on seven of 17 shots, including four of five from three-point range to help the Bulls bounce back from Wednesday's lacklustre  performance against defending champions Miami.

"We played with a lot more energy," Gordon said.  "We just wanted to redeem ourselves from (Wednesday's) effort. We just had a lot more energy and a greater sense of urgency on the defensive end. It showed in our play."

Hinrich's 10 first-quarter points helped Chicago create a 26-17 advantage after one period.

"Kirk got us off to a good start," Gordon said.  "Luol and I just tried to do our part while he (Hinrich) was hot."

All-Star Dwight Howard collected 17 points and 14 rebounds and Jameer Nelson scored 13 points for Orlando, who are 16-30 after  beginning the season with a stellar 13-4 record.

Turkey's Hedo Turkoglu and Serbia's Darko Milicic both started for the Magic but were held to just two points each.

Ian Parker
FIBA