NBA – Ginobili again leads Spurs with eye-popping fourth-quarter (+ video)

SAN ANTONIO (NBA) – Manu Ginobili exploded for 16 points in the fourth period on Friday to lead San Antonio past the Minnesota Timberwolves 99-84.

The Argentina superstar finished with a game-high 26 as the Spurs became the first team in the Western Conference to reach 50 wins.

Another high-flying team in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Hornets, crashed to a 112-92 defeat at Eastern Conference juggernauts Boston, who won for the 57th time – the most in the NBA so far this season.

Paul Pierce had 22 points and dished out 10 assists for the Celtics (57-15), who are six games clear of Detroit in the race for home-court advantage throughout the play-offs.

Kobe Bryant erupted for 53 points but that wasn’t enough for Los Angeles, who were upset at home by the lowly Memphis Grizzlies 114-111.

Both the Lakers and the Hornets are stuck on 49 wins.

Atlanta claimed an important victory over Chicago to strengthen their grip on eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Mike Bibby, acquired in mid-season from Sacramento, poured in 30 points as the Hawks won 106-103 at home to improve to 32-40.

The Bulls, among the sides hoping to overtake the Hawks, dropped to 28-44.

Big man Rasho Nesterovic of Slovenia continued his fine play of late with 18 points and eight rebounds while Team USA’s Chris Bosh finished with 29 and 10 as the Toronto Raptors won 103-95 over the New York Knicks.

Carlos Delfino of Argentina also played well with nine points and 10 rebounds as the Raptors climbed back into sixth place in the East at 37-35.

That was possible because Philadelphia slumped to a 107-93 home setback against the Phoenix Suns to fall to 37-36.

The New Jersey Nets, also chasing the Hawks, lost 123-115 at Indiana. The defeat has left New Jersey at 31-42.

In other games, the Utah Jazz won in Salt Lake City over the LA Clippers, 121-101.

The Jazz are 32-4 at home this season.

The Orlando Magic, third in the Eastern Conference, won 103-86 at Milwaukee.

Washington claimed an important road win at Sacramento, 114-108, allowing them to hold on to fifth place in the East at 38-34.

In a battle of struggling teams, the Charlotte Bobcats won 96-93 at Seattle.

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