San Antonio Spurs vs. Los Angeles Lakers - NBA Playoffs 2013 Game 1 Recap: Manu Returns To Help Spurs Win

It was a comeback game for Manu Ginobili, as he helped the San Antonio Spurs win against the LA Lakers, 91-79.

Playing at home, Manu scored 18 points in his second game since missing nine straight due to an injury. Throughout the guard's 11^th NBA season, he has been bothered by a strained right hamstring causing him to miss most of this month's regular season games. But on Sunday's game at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, the player was fired up and back to his old, scoring self. Shooting 6 out of 13 from the field, Manu drained 3 of his 5 three-point attempts in 19 minutes of play.

"It was great to have Manu back," Coach Gregg Popovich of the Spurs told ESPN. "He does what he does. He makes big shots. He creates problems for the opponent and he's got a great will, a great desire."

Helping Ginobili secure Game 1 of their Best of Seven quarterfinals matchup were teammates Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner who all scored double digits. Parker led the team in scoring with 18, while also chipping in 8 assists, 3 steals and 3 rebounds. However, it was Duncan and the rest of the Spurs' big men, who contributed greatly in defense, that kept Lakers at bay. The team was able to hurt the Lakers' inside game, keeping them at 10 points within the shaded area in the first half. Duncan had 17 points and added 8 defensive boards to his stats.

"It was a very physical game," Duncan shared. "It was a good start to our playoff run."

The struggle LA had with their inside game was obvious enough that Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, who is out until next season due to a torn Achilles tendon, had to express his consternation.

"Post. Post. Post," tweeted Bryant, followed by "Gotta milk pau in the post right now and d12. Will get good looks from it."

Despite the defensive stops the Spurs were able to execute, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol were still able to score double digits. Gasol had 16 points and 16 rebounds, while D12 had 20 points and 15 rebounds. Steve Nash also suited up for the game after missing nine straight to a hip/ hamstring injury. He added 16 points and 3 assists to the Laker's stats.

Game 2 of the quarterfinals between the San Antonio Spurs and the LA Lakers are scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, at the AT&T Center in San Antonio.