Spurs-Jazz Preview

[ScolaFan]

Spurs-Jazz Preview
By MATT BEARDMORE,
STATS Writer

(AP) -- San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has admittedly lost a step, but he can still find ways to help the team. No matter how unconventional those ways can be.

Ginobili and the well-rested Spurs open a two-game trip Thursday night at EnergySolutions Arena, where they'll face a Utah Jazz team off to its worst start in seven seasons.

After missing 38 games and the playoffs in 2008-09 due to ankle injuries, Ginobili has played well coming off the Spurs' bench this season, averaging 13.7 points and 3.7 assists.

He had 13 points in Saturday's 113-94 victory over Sacramento, but received his loudest cheers from the San Antonio crowd when he swatted a bat out of the air with his bare hand in the first quarter, before scooping it off the court so play could resume.

"When you can't dunk anymore, you have to find a way to make it into the news," said Ginobili, who posted a message on his Facebook page Monday saying he had to be vaccinated for rabies. "So that's what I did. I grabbed a bat. I didn't think it was a big deal."

The Spurs (2-1) didn't feel that way about Ginobili's clutch performance in their last game in Utah - a 106-100 victory on Jan. 27.

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