Ginobili on 27-point outburst: 'I needed a game like this'

The San Antonio Spurs have been sputtering without Kawhi Leonard.

Noticing their lot in the Western Conference standings, the Spurs rolled the dice Wednesday playing all three of their veterans in a back-to-back situation for just the third time all season.

The move proved effective, as the team's Big Three - Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili - combined for 51 points in a narrow, 98-93 road victory against the Charlotte Hornets.

It was Ginobili who stood out, scoring 27 points in 24 minutes, shooting 10-of-14 from the floor and adding three rebounds, two assists and three steals. 

And it sounds like the outburst took a weight off the Argentine's shoulders.

"Today I made a couple shots, made better decisions," Ginobili said after the game. "I feel better about it. I needed a game like this."

The Spurs needed a game like this, too, bouncing back from a tough loss Tuesday and winning for the fifth time in seven outings, their best roll without Leonard.

Ginobili has been solid, averaging 12.8 points and a career-high 4.9 assists in 25.1 minutes, but he'd yet to completely take over a game like he did Wednesday, save for maybe an early-season game against the Indiana Pacers. 

He'd also shot 39.2 percent over his past six outings and 39.9 percent over his last 15 - below his established standards.

The 37-year-old still has that extra gear on offense that opponents struggle to contain, opening up a great deal for the rest of the team on that end. The Hornets were served a reminder of that.

"Manu was incredible tonight," Duncan said.