National Basketball Association

Ginobili sitting for Spurs, Gordon out for Hornets

Published Oct. 31, 2012 9:49 p.m. ET

foxsports

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili is sitting out the season opener against New Orleans because of back spasms.

Ginobili missed half of the team's eight preseason games because of back problems, a troubling sign for the aging Spurs. Coach Gregg Popovich says it's vital that they keep the 30-somethings - Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Ginobili - healthy this season.

The Hornets are missing guard Eric Gordon, who missed all of training camp with a sore left knee and is out indefinitely.