The San Antonio Spurs avoided being swept by the Golden State Warriors last night as longtime teammates Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker captured their 132nd playoff win together, which is the most of any two teammates in NBA history.
Ginobili finished with 16 points on 5-of-10 shooting in the Spurs' 103-90 Game 4 victory, marking the second time this post-season that he has come off the bench and scored double figures. According to ESPN, prior to the start of the NBA playoffs, no other player age 40 or older had ever scored double figures off the bench in a postseason game.
10 of Manu's 16 came in the final minutes of the fourth as the Spurs' held off the Warriors' late push and Golden State coach Steve Kerr couldn't help but smile when Ginobili sealed the game late in the fourth quarter.
"I think he should come back two more years," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. "I smiled when he made that corner 3 right in front of us at the end of the game. It was just so typical Manu: [40] years old and 16 points, and hits the clinching 3. He's Manu. That's what he does. I know he's old because he was my teammate, and I'm old as dirt. So, if I played with him, he must be old."
According to ESPN, Ginobili is also one of three players in NBA history age 40 or older to record 15 points or more and five assists or more in a playoff game, joining a list that includes John Stockton and Karl Malone.
The series now shifts back to Oakland for Game 5 tomorrow night.