To the rescue
Aldridge, Ginobili help Spurs nip Celtics, 105-102
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Boston Celtics are flush with young talent, but those youthful legs were done in by a 40-year-old Spurs veteran fresh from a "killer nap."
Manu Ginobili, who has teetered on the brink of retirement the past two offseasons, hit a high-arcing 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining and San Antonio beat Boston 105-102 on Friday night, snapping the Celtics' four-game winning streak.
"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."
The veteran's heroics enabled San Antonio to escape Kyrie Irving's 36-point effort for Boston.
"I said before the game he's probably the best player, one of the best players, at the end of quarters I've ever seen," Celtics coach Brad Stevens said. "Now I wish I hadn't said it."
Ginobili rose earlier than normal on game day to enjoy a rare snowstorm in San Antonio with his family, but he recovered by taking a refreshing nap.
The added sleep was beneficial as Ginobili set up the winning basket by sprinting into the paint for an offensive rebound with 25.8 seconds left. He eventually was able to get Boston rookie Jayson Tatum to switch off him defensively, allowing him to shoot a rainbow shot over a charging Al Horford.