Manu Down

There is no question Ginobili has fought the
injury bug most of his career.

The San Antonio Spurs road to repeating as the top seed in the Western Conference just got a whole lot harder. In the team's 106-96 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday night, guard Manu Ginobili broke his shooting hand and will be out indefinitely.

Ginobili, a southpaw, injured his hand late in the second quarter after fouling Minnesota center Anthony Tolliver on a shot attempt.

After being taken back for X-rays, it was revealed to the Argentinian native that he'd in fact broke the fifth metacarpal, right below his pinkie.

Prior to the injury, Ginobili had been 3-for-6 from the field, scoring 8 points in 12 minutes on the floor. Averaging 19.8 point per game thus far, the two-time All-Star has started all four games for San Antonio this season, after spending most of his career better served off the bench for three championship teams.

Ginobili captured the Sixth Man of the Year Award back in 2008 after setting career-highs in point per game (19.5), field goal percentage (.401) and minutes (31).

Despite Ginobili being hampered by injury much of his career, the now-34-year-old veteran set career-highs in games played (80) and games started (79) a year ago, helping the Spurs to the best record in the Western Conference (61-21) and an impressive 36-5 home record.

With Ginobili averaging just 66 games a year the last three seasons and no time table for his return, a mix of young players and talented veterans will need to continue the tradition thats has been laid.