As evidenced by the black sleeve on his strained right elbow, it was clear that Manu Ginobili wasn’t the same – as the Argentine superstar returned to the San Antonio Spurs after missing game one.

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“It was uncomfortable,” Ginobili said of the sleeve “But I felt I did OK. I took some risk. I went for some steals and rebounds and it wasn’t that I played worried about getting hit or something.”

And that’s Manu. Taking risks on a somewhat predictable San Antonio team. Ginobili shot just 5-13 and had 5 turnovers, but as in most games, when the 6-6, 33-year old shooting guard is on the floor, the Spurs are at their best.

That was evident last night again, as Ginobili had a game-high +16 in the plus.minus category.  He finished with 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in leading the San Antonio Spurs to a 93-87 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.

“Manu’s Manu, come on,” Grizzlies forward Shane Battier said. “I don’t care if he’s in a body cast, he’s going to be out there and he’s going to be a handful to deal with. That’s why he’s a great player.”