Parker, Duncan stepped up with Ginobili out

The Spurs just didn't just survive with Manu Ginobili out. They thrived.

San Antonio went into Saturday night's Ginobili return at New Jersey having won six straight. The reason, according to Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, had to do with the other two members of the Big Three.

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker helped make the wait for Ginobili tolerable.

"The group has exceeded our expectations and mostly because Timmy's been so steady, Tony's played so well and the young kids, the bench guys, have outdone themselves," Popovich said.

"When Manu's ready, you bring him back, so that made it easy. He's Manu and when he's ready to go, you don't care if you're winning, losing, it doesn't matter. He's coming back."

Ginobili scored eight points in the 103-89 victory over the Nets. He hadn't played since breaking his hand on Jan. 2.

"I don't have great expectations for the first few games," he said. "I just want to contribute, help a little bit, don't change anything of what the team's doing, just try to fit in again.

"I think at the beginning I'm not going to play 30 minutes (but) come back slowly. I mean I wasn't in great shape even before the surgery, so not going to be now."

San Antonio (19-9) continues its Rodeo Road Trip on Tuesday in Detroit.

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