Last night saw a critical game 5 in the Western Conference showdown between the instate rival San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets. With the winner of game 5 going on to win the series 82 percent of the time, this was a must-win game for both sides. What no one could have seen coming was how Manu Ginobili, who had averaged 3.7 points this postseason, would step up.

Manu's big game

Last night, Manu Ginobili had 12 points, seven rebounds, and 5 blocks. These are all 2017 postseason highs for the 39-year-old Argentinian. He ended the first quarter of the game with a now rare feat, as he cut to the basket and dunked with 2:02 left in the quarter.

This was only Ginobili's third dunk of the 2016-17 season and the first since the new year started.

However, Ginobili's heroics really came through for the San Antonio Spurs late in the fourth quarter and overtime. With 4:57 left to play in the fourth quarter, Ginobili replaced an injured Kawhi Leonard. Leonard reentered the game to try to play with 2:59 left but would end up being subbed out for good with 34.5 seconds to go.

With their star player out, Ginobili stepped up. With the Spurs down by 2 points late in the fourth, Ginobili drove to the rim and made a driving finger roll. This game-tying shot with 34 seconds left would ultimately send the game into overtime.

It was his first game tying or go ahead made shot in the final minute of a game this season.

Then, with the Spurs clinging to a three-point lead at the end of overtime, he made his biggest play of all. He blocked MVP candidate James Harden's last second three-point attempt to tie the game.

It was the first time in his career that Ginobili has blocked Harden.

It was also only the 13th time all season that Harden had been blocked on one of the 862 three-pointers he has taken. Before the block, Ginobili last blocked a three-pointer on January 12, 2016, against Kyrie Irving. The last time it happened in the playoffs was all the way back on May 5, 2012, against Alec Burks.

Kawhi Leonard's injury

San Antonio Spurs star player Kawhi Leonard injured his ankle with 5:37 left in the third quarter after coming down on James Harden's foot while running down the court. As mentioned before, Leonard tried to play through the injury but ended up sitting out all of overtime.

After the game, Leonard insisted that he was going to play in game 6, but at this point, it is unclear how bad the injury is or how much it is affecting him. He did not have a noticeable limp in the training room after meeting with the media for his post game press conference.
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