"Limited in the preseason by both foot and back injuries, San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili is expected to miss the Spurs' season opener against New Orleans on Wednesday according to Mike Monroe of the San Antonio Express-News.

The 35-year-old Ginobili played just 23.3 minutes per night last year for the Spurs, representing his lowest single-game average since his first season in the league in 2002-03. A two-time All-Star and three-time NBA champion, Ginobili has not been able to shake a nagging back injury that has plagued him this fall, and did not even bother to make the trip to New Orleans for his team's opener."