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29 March 2019•Update: 31 March 2019
ANKARA
The San Antonio Spurs' retired veteran guard Manu Ginobili's jersey on Thursday.
Argentine guard Manu Ginobili's no. 20 jersey was raised to rafters at Spurs' home court AT&T Center after the game against Cleveland Cavaliers.
"Thank you for being with me all along. I love you," Ginobili said during the retirement ceremony.
Four-time NBA champion Ginobili, 41, announced his retirement in 2018 summer, ending of his 23-year professional basketball career, 16 of them came with the Spurs.
Spurs had retired eight players' jerseys in franchise history as Ginobili became the ninth.
Spurs had honored Bruce Bowen (12), Tim Duncan (21), Sean Elliott (32), George Gervin (44), Avery Johnson (6), Johnny Moore (00), David Robinson (50) and James Silas (13) by hanging their jerseys to the rafters.
Ginobili won the NBA titles in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2014. He was also named All-Star in 2005 and 2011.
Ginobili has appeared in 218 career playoff games at Spurs, where he averaged 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3.8 assists in 27.9 minutes.
Before his 16-year spell at Spurs, Ginobili played in Argentina and Italy.
Ginobili has also played for Argentine National Basketball Team from 1998 to 2016 as he led his country to the gold medal in the 2004 Olympics held in Greek capital Athens.
Thursday games
In Thursday's game, the Spurs beat Cavaliers 116-110 at home, earning their 44th win this season.
Spurs are now in the 8th spot in Western Conference standings as they are struggling to be in the NBA playoffs.
Spurs star DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and made eight assists. DeRozan was the top scorer of this game.
Spurs guard Bryn Forbes produced 19 points and Italian guard Marco Belinelli racked up 16 points against Cavaliers.
Cavaliers' top scorer was guard Collin Sexton scoring 24 points. Forward Kevin Love produced 18 points and had eight rebounds.
Cavaliers' Turkish forward Cedi Osman scored nine points and took five rebounds.
Meanwhile, Sacramento Kings were defeated by New Orleans Pelicans 121-118, allowing the Utah Jazz -- who are currently in the 5th seed in the Western Conference -- clinched the playoffs.
- Results:
Philadelphia 76ers-Brooklyn Nets: 123-110
Detroit Pistons - Orlando Magic: 115-98
Miami Heat - Dallas Mavericks: 105-99
New York Knicks - Toronto Raptors: 92-117
Houston Rockets - Denver Nuggets: 112-85
Milwaukee Bucks - Los Angeles Clippers: 128-118
New Orleans Pelicans - Sacramento Kings: 121-118
San Antonio Spurs - Cleveland Cavaliers: 116-110
