Spurs guard Manu Ginobili checks for blood after colliding with Kings guard Tyreke Evans. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
San Antonio Spurs fans were holding their breath Wednesday night after Manu Ginobili collided with Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans in one of more violent collisions you’ll see in the NBA.
The play occurred early in the fourth quarter with the winning big, which leads to the question of “why was Manu still in the game?” Ginobili tried to jump the dribble handoff and slammed his shoulder into Evans’ chin. Watch the play:
Fortunately for the Spurs Ginobili walked away from the play with just a sore shoulder and a big headache, which is a minor miracle given Ginobili’s luck of late.
Two years ago in a first-round series against Dallas, Ginobili broke his nose after taking an elbow from Dirk Nowitzki. Last year, Ginobili severely sprained his right elbow in a meaningless regular season game at Phoenix and the injury limited him in the first-round series against Memphis, resulting in a first-round exit for the top-seeded Spurs.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich may have to sacrifice home-court advantage just so he can keep Ginobili from getting hurt again.