Manu Ginobili scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half, and the San Antonio Spurs pulled away following the late ejection of Ben Wallace to defeat the Detroit Pistons 84-75 Thursday night.
Detroit trailed 71-64 when Wallace was called for a loose ball foul with 6:07 remaining. Referee Steve Javie ejected Wallace for heatedly complaining.
An 18-4 run that started before the ejection put San Antonio ahead 82-66.
Hornets’ Davis sidelined
Guard Baron Davis, New Orleans’ leading scorer at 23 points a game, missed Thursday night’s game against the Atlanta Hawks with a sprained ankle. The Hawks took advantage of Davis’ absence to defeat the Hornets 84-76.
Davis injured the ankle while diving for a loose ball in Tuesday night’s win over Detroit. He left the game just before the end of the third quarter and didn’t return. His status for Friday’s game against Phoenix is uncertain.
The Hornets were 2-4 earlier this season when Davis sat out.
RESULTS, THURSDAY’S SYNOPSIS
New Orleans 76 at Atlanta 84
Bob Sura had 23 points and career-high 15 rebounds. Chris Crawford and Jason Collier each scored 16 points for the Hawks, who limited Hornets to 30 second-half points.
Detroit 76 at San Antonio 84
Win pulled Spurs within 2 games of Midwest Division leader Minnesota with 10 remaining for both teams. Rasheed Wallace paced Pistons with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Washington 103 L.A. Clippers 94
Larry Hughes scored 24 of his 30 in first half as Wizards ended 5-game road losing streak. Hughes, in his 3rd game since coming off injured list, tied career high with 12 rebounds.
