LEAD: Short-handed Spurs rally to beat Warriors at home

By Paul Levine Jan 5, 2012, 8:15 GMT

Los Angeles - No Manu Ginobili, no worries, as the National Basketball Association's San Antonio Spurs maintained their home court mastery over the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night.

Frenchman Tony Parker scored six of his 21 points in the final minute and handed out eight assists, as the short-handed Spurs rallied for their 27th consecutive home court victory over the Warriors, 101-95.

'It was good for our confidence,' Parker said. 'We're going to play a long time without Manu. In a schedule like this, you have to win games at home. It was a big one for us and now we have a big one tomorrow (against Dallas).'

The Spurs were playing their first game without two-time All-Star guard Ginobili, who is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery on Thursday to repair a broken bone in his left shooting hand. The oft-injured Argentine suffered the injury Monday against Minnesota.

'Tmrw I'll have a plate & screws on my beloved left hand,' Ginobili tweeted earlier today. 'Not thrilled.'

Richard Jefferson scored 17 points, while Tim Duncan finished with 15 and 11 rebounds for San Antonio, which has won the last 13 meetings in the series since February 14, 1997.

Monta Ellis poured in a season-high 38 points, while Stephen Curry added 20 before leaving in the third quarter after reinjuring his right ankle for the Warriors, who dropped their third in a row.

The Warriors carried a 10-point advantage into the final 12 minutes, but were outscored 31-20.

'Giving up 31 points in the fourth quarter is not a way to close out a victory on the road,' Golden State rookie coach Mark Jackson said.'

Elsewhere:

Miami Heat 118, Indiana Pacers 83: LeBron James collected 33 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds; Chris Bosh scored 22; and the Heat overcame the absence of All-Star guard Dwyane Wade because of a sore left foot to punish the visiting Pacers.

Dallas Mavericks 98, Phoenix Suns 89: German juggernaut Dirk Nowitzki scored 20 points; Jason Terry had 18; and the reigning NBA Champion Mavericks eclipsed the visiting Suns for their third win in the last four games.

Polish centre Marcin Gortat had 22 points and 10 boards to pace Phoenix, while Canadian Steve Nash had 15 points and 12 assists.

LA Clippers 117, Houston Rockets 89: Blake Griffin had 22 points with nine assists; and Chris Paul accumulated 20 points and 10 assists, as the Clippers cruised past the visiting Rockets.

Orlando Magic 103, Washington Wizards 85: Dwight Howard had 28 points and 20 rebounds; Ryan Anderson chipped in with 23 points and 15 boards; and the Magic dropped the Wizards to 0-6 to start the season.

Toronto Raptors 92, Cleveland Cavaliers 77: Italian native Andrea Bargnani tossed in 31 points; DeMar DeRozan added 25; and the Raptors rolled the visiting Cavaliers for their second straight win.

Boston Celtics 89, New Jersey Nets 70: Paul Pierce scored 24 points; Brandon Bass had 15 points with 13; and the Celtics - without Ray Allen because of flu-like symptoms - routed the visiting Nets for their fourth consecutive victory.

Chicago Bulls 99, Detroit 83: Carlos Boozer scored 19 points; Derrick Rose had 17 with 10 assists; and the visiting Bulls punished the Pistons for their fifth consecutive victory.

Charlotte Bobcats 118, New York Knicks 110: Frenchman Boris Diaw scored 27 points; Gerald Henderson had 24; and the visiting Bobcats blasted the Knicks to break a four-game slide.

Carmelo Anthony scored 32 for New York (2-4), while Amar'e Stoudemire finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds after missing the last two games with an ankle sprain.

Memphis Grizzlies 90, Minnesota Timberwolves 86: Tony Allen tossed in 20 points and Rudy Gay added 19, leading the visiting Grizzlies past the T-Wolves for their third win in the last four games.

Kevin Love collected 27 points and 14 boards to pace Minnesota, while Spanish rookie Ricky Rubio contributed 12 points and 10 assists.

Philadelphia 76ers 101, New Orleans Hornets 93: Jrue Holiday erupted for 14 of his 23 points in the final quarter; Evan Turner added 21 off the bench; and the visiting 76ers finished their season-opening road trip at 3-2 by handing the Hornets their fourth straight loss.

Denver Nuggets 110, Sacramento Kings 83: Al Harrington scored 15 points and Spaniard Rudy Fernandez had 12 along with eight assists, as the host Nuggets crowned the Kings for their third straight win.