Have we seen Manu Ginobili's last game in San Antonio?

Have we seen Manu Ginobili's last game in San Antonio?

Sunday's game was do-or-die for the Spurs. San Antonio needed a hero, and as he has done so often throughout his storied NBA career, Ginobili stepped up to the plate.

Sunday's game was do-or-die for the Spurs. San Antonio needed a hero, and as he has done so often throughout his storied NBA career, Ginobili stepped up to the plate.

Saving the Spurs' season and making history? It's just another day at the office for Manu Ginobili. 

Sunday's game was do-or-die for the Spurs. They were down 3-0 to the defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, and were in danger of being swept. San Antonio needed a hero, and as he has done so often throughout his storied NBA career, Ginobili stepped up to the plate.

He scored 10 points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, sealing the game for the Spurs. This was the fifth time he's had at least ten points in the last six minutes of a playoff game. 

Ginobili accounted for the last five points of this crucial game. With 1:19 left on the clock, he hit an incredibly difficult fadeaway jumper over reigning Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green.

With 27 seconds left on the clock, Patty Mills passed it to Ginobili on the three-point line. The 40-year old drained the shot, sealing a 103-90 victory over the Warriors. 

Ginobili had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 25 minutes of play. He went 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 on three-point shots. In addition, he was plus 16 for the contest. 

After this performance, he became one of the few players in NBA history to score 16 or more points in a postseason game at age 40 or older. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Duncan have achieved this feat. 

With this win, Ginobili and Tony Parker became the winningest duo in NBA playoff history. The pair has now won 132 postseason games together. Tim Duncan and Parker are second with 131, and Duncan and Ginobili are third with 126. 

This was Ginobili's 217th playoff game, which puts him eighth all-time. Parker is fifth with 225, and Duncan is second with 251. 

He is also 24th in postseason scoring in NBA history. He has scored 3044 points in his playoff career, despite coming off the bench for the majority of the time. 

Ginobili also climbed into third place in career playoff three-pointers made. He has now made 323 three-point shots in his career, passing Reggie Miller, who had 320. 

"I think he should come back two more years," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said per Micheal C. Wright. "I smiled when he made that corner 3 right in front of us at the end of the game. It was just so typical Manu: [40] years old and 16 points, and hits the clinching 3. He's Manu. That's what he does. I know he's old because he was my teammate, and I'm old as dirt. So, if I played with him, he must be old."

Kerr's right: this game-saving is typical of Ginobili. His career is littered with buzzer beaters and clutch moments, especially in the playoffs. Just last year he had one of the greatest plays of the entire postseason when he blocked James Harden's potential game-tying shot in overtime.

At 40-years old, Ginobili is now far past the point when many players decide to retire. In his 16-year career, the Argentinian has won four NBA Championships, an Olympic Gold Medal, and has etched his name in the history books. Ginobili has nothing left to prove. But one can't help hoping that the beloved figure will come back for one more year. 

Sunday's game could very well have been the final home game of Manu Ginobili's career. If it was truly his last, that was a fitting grand finale for the Spurs legend. 

Saving the Spurs' season and making history? It's just another day at the office for Manu Ginobili. 

Sunday's game was do-or-die for the Spurs. They were down 3-0 to the defending NBA champions, the Golden State Warriors, and were in danger of being swept. San Antonio needed a hero, and as he has done so often throughout his storied NBA career, Ginobili stepped up to the plate.

He scored 10 points in the last six minutes of the fourth quarter, sealing the game for the Spurs. This was the fifth time he's had at least ten points in the last six minutes of a playoff game. 

Ginobili accounted for the last five points of this crucial game. With 1:19 left on the clock, he hit an incredibly difficult fadeaway jumper over reigning Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green.

With 27 seconds left on the clock, Patty Mills passed it to Ginobili on the three-point line. The 40-year old drained the shot, sealing a 103-90 victory over the Warriors. 

Ginobili had 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in 25 minutes of play. He went 5-of-10 from the field, including 3-of-5 on three-point shots. In addition, he was plus 16 for the contest. 

After this performance, he became one of the few players in NBA history to score 16 or more points in a postseason game at age 40 or older. Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, and Duncan have achieved this feat. 

With this win, Ginobili and Tony Parker became the winningest duo in NBA playoff history. The pair has now won 132 postseason games together. Tim Duncan and Parker are second with 131, and Duncan and Ginobili are third with 126. 

This was Ginobili's 217th playoff game, which puts him eighth all-time. Parker is fifth with 225, and Duncan is second with 251. 

He is also 24th in postseason scoring in NBA history. He has scored 3044 points in his playoff career, despite coming off the bench for the majority of the time. 

Ginobili also climbed into third place in career playoff three-pointers made. He has now made 323 three-point shots in his career, passing Reggie Miller, who had 320. 

"I think he should come back two more years," Warriors coach Steve Kerr said per Micheal C. Wright. "I smiled when he made that corner 3 right in front of us at the end of the game. It was just so typical Manu: [40] years old and 16 points, and hits the clinching 3. He's Manu. That's what he does. I know he's old because he was my teammate, and I'm old as dirt. So, if I played with him, he must be old."

Kerr's right: this game-saving is typical of Ginobili. His career is littered with buzzer beaters and clutch moments, especially in the playoffs. Just last year he had one of the greatest plays of the entire postseason when he blocked James Harden's potential game-tying shot in overtime.

At 40-years old, Ginobili is now far past the point when many players decide to retire. In his 16-year career, the Argentinian has won four NBA Championships, an Olympic Gold Medal, and has etched his name in the history books. Ginobili has nothing left to prove. But one can't help hoping that the beloved figure will come back for one more year. 

Sunday's game could very well have been the final home game of Manu Ginobili's career. If it was truly his last, that was a fitting grand finale for the Spurs legend. 

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