A healthy looking Manu Ginobili scored 24 points to lead the Spurs to a 95-82 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in their season opener on Monday at the ATT Center.
Tony Parker had 15 points. Neither Ginobili nor Parker scored in the first quarter, but both got going later in the first half. The Spurs took the lead for good in the second quarter after struggling with eight turnovers in the first nine minutes of the game.
Richard Jefferson gave the Spurs an offensive spark early and finished with 14 points. Tim Duncan had 10 points.
Rookie Kawhi Leonard made his NBA debut and recorded his first point, basket and rebound. Rookie guard Cory Joseph made his debut in the final two minutes of the game.
Fourth quarter: Spurs call timeout to get all their bench players in. The Spurs lead 92-78 with 1:16 left.
Manu Ginobili has 20 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Spurs lead 86-74 with 4:22 left.
James Anderson finishes a fast break and the Spurs lead 86-72 with 5:39 left. Grizzlies timeout.
Pop calls a timeout after the Grizzlies get an easy basket. The Spurs lead 75-62 with 9:21 left in the game.
Third quarter – Spurs 72, Grizzlies 58: Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker have been strong offensively in the second and third quarters. They have combined for 28 points.
Manu Ginobili has 12 points and Tony Parker has 11. Tim Duncan just hit his first shot since 7:22 of the first quarter. The Spurs lead 60-49 with 5:12 left in the third quarter.
Richard Jefferson has 13 points and the Spurs lead 52-49 with 7:18 left in the third quarter. He is shooting 5 of 10. Timeout.
Halftime – Grizzlies 44, Spurs 43: Richard Jefferson leads all scorers with 10 points and Manu Ginobili has nine.
The Spurs have cut down (eliminated) their turnovers in the second quarter. They lead 37-33 with 3:27 left in the first half.
Richard Jefferson is the first Spurs player in double figures this season. He has 10 points. Who had him in the pool? The Spurs lead 30-26 with 6:26 left in the second quarter.
Richard Jefferson hit three straight shots early in the second quarter – one of those a 3-pointer. The Grizzlies lead the Spurs 24-23 with 8:46 left in the half.
The Spurs averaged 13.43 turnovers per game last season. They are on pace to pass that in the second quarter.
First quarter – Grizzlies 22, Spurs 14: The Spurs shoot 26 percent and turn the ball over eight times in the first quarter.
James Anderson and Matt Bonner each hits a 3-pointer off the bench. The Grizzlies lead the Spurs 16-12 with 2:35 left in the first quarter. Tim Duncan is already on the bench with three fouls.
Tim Duncan has two quick baskets and the Spurs are piling up some early fouls. The Grizzlies lead the Spurs 9-6 at the first timeout with 6:41 left in the first quarter.
Spurs starting lineup: point guard Tony Parker, shooting guard Manu Ginobili, small forward Richard Jefferson, power forward Tim Duncan and center DeJuan Blair.
The Spurs at long last open the regular season tonight.
The Spurs play the Memphis Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m. (Central) at the ATT Center.
Join Jeff McDonald and Tim Griffin for a live game chat (below) beginning at 7 p.m.