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For much of Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors on Monday night, Manu Ginobili wasn't exactly anything close to an accurate shooter.

He finished the night -- a crazy 129-127 double-overtime San Antonio win -- shooting 5-for-20 from the floor with 16 points in 36 minutes (he also recorded seven rebounds and 11 assists). He was taking ill-advised shots, too, which is something that frustrates Spurs coach Gregg Popovich. This is not something necessarily difficult to do, but it was nevertheless pretty clear to everyone that Pop wasn't enjoying aspects of Manu's Game 1 performance.

Ginobili's rainmaker was the result of a defensive miscue by the Warriors, but also speaks to the veteran's fearlessness and overall magnetism to gigantic playoff moments.

Here's what Popovich had to say about Ginobili's Game 1 heroics and what preceded the game-winner: "I went from trading him on the spot to wanting to cook him breakfast tomorrow. That's the truth."

Popovich added, "I stopped coaching him awhile ago," but in an affectionate, "That's Manu for you, right?" sort of tone. As far as Pop is concerned, for how Ginobili was shooting and choosing shots on Monday, it was the ultimate no-no-no-yes bucket.

Ginobili said in his post-game presser that he "wasn't even an option" on San Antonio's final inbound play. But for Ginobili, it was the playoffs and he was wide open and of course he is going to take that last shot. It's hard to be that surprised, regardless of what happened up until that point, when he is the one who cold-bloodedly knocks in the three-pointer that caps the Spurs' ridiculous Game 1 comeback.

馬刺與勇士的系列戰正式開打，沒想到雙方首次交手就殺得難分難解，靠著吉諾比利 (Manu Ginobili) 飆進關鍵三分彈，黑衫軍克服一度落後18分之頹勢，歷經二度延長終以2分之差艱辛勝出，也讓欣賞這場比賽的觀眾是大呼過癮。賽後接受採訪時，馬刺主帥波波維奇 (Gregg Popovich) 仍不改幽默風格，他表示自己原想把差點搞砸比賽的吉諾比利交易出去，但在前者逆勢救主後，他願意為其打點好明天的早餐。

「我本來打算把他交易走，但現在，我願意為他準備早餐。」波波維奇笑著說道。

事實上，吉諾比利也差點成為敗戰罪人，終場前44.9秒，馬刺掌握球權且保有3分領先，只要拖完時間就能占據絕對優勢，不料此刻，腦袋充血的吉諾比利竟以莫名節奏勉強出手，勇士隨即拿回球權，並由巴茲摩爾 (Kent Bazemore) 在籃下擺進關鍵兩分，場上局面頓時風雲變色。談到那次詭異的投籃時，波波維奇顯得有些無奈，但他也明確表示，這就是吉諾比利的風格。

「我沒有辦法和他討論投籃時機，」波波維奇說，「他就是這麼打球，而且有自己的一套，我從很久以前就懶得管他了。」

接受媒體採訪時，吉諾比利也談到了自家主帥：「我在出手第一次三分時看了他一眼，他的臉非常臭，對我而言這意味著很多。」

「鬼之切入」在今日出戰勇士的比賽上陣36分鐘，20投5中拿到16分11助攻和7個籃板，表現並不理想，但他於最後關頭砍進的制勝三分，卻硬生生把馬刺從鬼門關拿了回來，可謂力挽狂瀾、將功折罪。