ARG/FRA - Manu, Turiaf sidelined with broken hands

SAN ANTONIO (NBA/Olympics) - Olympic hopefuls Manu Ginobili of Argentina and Ronny Turiaf of France have broken their hands in NBA games and face a spell out of action.

San Antonio Spurs star Ginobili played 13 minutes in Monday's clash at Minnesota before having to leave the court and receive treatment on his left hand.

The Spurs said in a statement: "Manu Ginobili suffered a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand Monday night while playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

“At this point no timeline has been determined for his return."

The 34-year-old Ginobili, who helped fire Argentina to the gold medal at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata last summer, went on Twitter to voice his frustration.

He said: "I have the 5th metacarpal of my left hand fractured. I guess I'll miss a few weeks. Sad day 4 me."

Turiaf, meanwhile, broke his left hand in the second half of Sunday's defeat to the Boston Celtics and will miss up to six weeks.

The center broke the same hand at the London Invitational Tournament last year, an injury that prevented him from playing for France at the EuroBasket where they reached the Final and earned a trip to the London Games.

Turiaf’s injury last summer opened the door for Kevin Seraphin to become a more important member of the French national team.

And Seraphin is to benefit again since he is a Wizards player, with Turiaf having been receiving most of the minutes as the back-up to JaVale McGee.

“We’ve played very well with him,” Washington coach Flip Saunders said of Seraphin.

“It’s unfortunate, but gives other guys opportunities.”

FIBA