SAN ANTONIO, April 9 (UPI) -- Manu Ginobili came up with two key offensive rebounds in the final 90 seconds Wednesday night to help San Antonio hold off Portland, 84-79.
With the victory, the Spurs now have the best record in the NBA.
The Spurs (58-20) have won 10 straight games to move one-half game ahead of Dallas in the Midwest Division. They are an astounding 38-7 since the All-Star break.
They would not have won this contest without the hustle of Ginobili, a rookie guard from Argentina, whose ability to make plays off the dribble have taken some of the offensive pressure off superstar Tim Duncan.
After two free throws by Bonzi Wells pulled Portland within 81-79 with 1:28 to play, Tony Parker missed a jumper that was run down by Ginobili, buying the Spurs some extra time before Dale Davis stole the ball from Duncan.
At the other end, former Spur Derek Anderson missed a running banker with 35 seconds to go. Parker again missed a jumper, but Ginobili barely beat a Trail Blazer to the loose ball, and tapped it to Stephen Jackson, who was fouled with 10.6 seconds left and made both free throws.
