Manu Ginobili began Friday with an early morning romp through the snow with his three sons. Even though a big game awaited him later than night, the 40-year-old father wasn't going to waste a chance to make a lasting memory for his family.
"I was excited for them," he said of his boys, who were experiencing snow for the first time thanks to the first significant coating in San Antonio in 32 years. "They loved it."
Despite his long day, Ginobili had plenty of energy when the Spurs needed him most.
Ginobili scored six of his 11 points in the fourth quarter, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 5 seconds left, to lift the Spurs to a 105-102 victory over Kyrie Irving and the Boston Celtics on Friday night.
"I haven't hit a (game-winner) in a while, so it really feels good, especially when it helps your team win a tough game like today," Ginobili said.
The game wasn't decided until Irving missed a 3-pointer from the baseline with about two seconds left, and Patty Mills grabbed the rebound for the Spurs.
Irving finished with 36 points, but his last shot went in and out after it was contested by the Spurs' Rudy Gay.
"I thought it was cash money," Irving said. "I thought it was going to hit the bottom of the net, but obviously I didn't put enough on it."
Ginobili said he thought the worst when he saw the ball go into the corner to Irving.
"I saw Kyrie wide open," Ginobili said. "Then Rudy made a huge effort, got him to pump and re-establish."
But Gay downplayed his defensive, admitting he was a little late reacting.
"Next time he won't get the shot off at all," Gay said.
The Spurs overcame a 12-point deficit in the first quarter to avenge an Oct. 30 road loss to the Celtics and improve to 18-8, including 13-2 at home. Boston fell to 22-5, including 10-3 on the road.
The Spurs never led by more than six points in a game that featured seven lead changes and six ties.
Early on, it looked like the Celtics would run away with it. They jumped out to an 11-0 lead while the Spurs missed their first eight shots.
"We fought hard, we stayed in the game and then it was a lottery," Ginobili said. "We made it, they didn't, could have gone either way. The truth is they are a nice team. They have talent. They have athleticism. They are strong. Sometimes it looks like they have six players defensively. "We are proud of this win."
And they overcame Irving scoring 17 points in the first quarter on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4 of 5 from downtown. He finished the game 13 of 21.
"He's got everything," Popovich said. "His ball-handling, shooting ability, his scoring ability, his speed and quickness, his intelligence. He's got it all."
LaMarcus Aldridge finished with a team-high 27 points for the Spurs, who play at Phoenix on Saturday. Three other players finished it double-figures for San Antonio: Gay (15, including seven in the fourth), Pau Gasol (14) and Tony Parker (11).
Jayson Tatum contributed 20 for the Celtics.
A 3-pointer by Irving gave Boston a 102-100 lead with 1:52 left, but the Spurs answered 20 seconds later with a hook shot by Aldridge.
After Irving missed a pair of 3s, Gay misfired on his own attempt from long range. Ginobili hustled to grab the rebound, and 20 seconds later he let go with a high-arcing shot that found nothing but net despite a strong contest by the Celtics' Al Horford.
"I just saw the replay and Horford contested great," Ginobili said. "I just gave it a little more air, shot it higher and it went in. I got a little lucky because it's not my usual shot. I had to shoot it higher."
Ginobili foreshadowed his late-game heroics with another big three at the end of the first half. With the Spurs trailing 55-53, he sank an off-balance 27-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer that seemed to require every ounce of his energy to get off.
"That for sure was a lucky shot," he said. "I just tried to let it fly because I knew we didn't have much time, so I turned around and let it go. It was a bad shot."
All told, it was a night of amazing plays from an amazing player.
"Like he told me a lot of years ago, 'This is what I do,' " Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "He's amazing. He loves those moments and he's come through an awful lot and he did it again tonight – at age 40."
Said Gasol, "At this point, I don't think it will amaze you anymore. Huge plays, huge threes and he makes winning plays. He's a winner. He's a competitor. He gives everything he's got and that's what makes him so special."
Despite all of that, Gay believes Ginobili doesn't get enough credit.
"It's crazy how underrated he is as far as all-time greats," Gay said. "He is a player I have always watched, always admired. To play with him is great. He's a winner. It's great to be around a guy like that."
Gay also could have added that Ginobili is a great father.
"We walked the streets of my neighborhood, playing in the snow," Ginobili said of his early-morning frolic with his sons. "But I had a killer nap. That got me back."
Notes: Danny Green sat out the second half after experiencing tightness in his left groin...The Spurs flew to Phoenix after the game, leaving several players, including Gasol, behind to rest.
torsborn@express-news.net
Twitter: @tom_orsborn
