AT&T CENTER--Surveying the court ahead, catching a glimpse of Tim Duncan running side-by-side with Chris Johnson towards the rim, Manu Ginobili instantly started calculating steps and angles in his head. The equation solved as quickly as it appeared, Ginobili threaded a full court pass with just the proper amount of spin to reach its destination. 

A transition layup, a foul, and a highlight. It was the perfect blend of art and science that Ginobili specializes in tiptoeing; the kind that borders on magic. A magic not so coincidentally absent from the AT&T Center over the past month. 

"It's a huge difference for us, he changes the game for us," Duncan said of Ginobili. "He's done it for years. To have him back out there and to have another x-factor is huge for us."

It has been a struggle for the San Antonio Spurs, literally limping to the finish line nursing a myriad of injuries. Ginobili's hamstring, Gary Neal's legs, Boris Diaw's back, Tony Parker's everything. And yet, for a brief stretch in the first half on the last night of the regular season against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spurs caught a reminder of everything they could be. 

With 6:14 remaining in the second quarter Ginobili checked in for Danny Green, reuniting the Big Three with second-year sensation Kawhi Leonard in a lineup the Spurs figure to lean on heavily during the playoffs. 

The matchup of the game in the last game of the season for the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves will be between Manu Ginobili and Ricky Rubio.

This will be Ginobili's return game from a hamstring injury that's plagued him these past few weeks. He'll likely come off the bench to continue his role as the Spurs' sixth man, but he should see a good amount of minutes to get him conditioned for the first round of the playoffs. He'll be matched up against Ricky Rubio, who's the starting combo guard for the Wolves. Both men have a similar game of pick and roll attacks coupled with flashy Top 10 worthy passes. Don't expect anything less from Rubio and Ginobili, who'll be looking to get into rhythm with the playoffs approaching.

What Ginobili must do on offense:

The newest member of the San Antonio Spurs, Tracy McGrady, spoke to the media after today's practice for the first time.

McGrady spoke on how he found out he was coming to the Spurs, being a "couch potato," joining a championship team and much more.

Though he will not play tonight in the team's final home game of the regular season, McGrady says he will be ready to go once coach Popovich calls his number.

The San Antonio Spurs (58-23) will close out their regular season with a home game versus the Minnesota Timberwolves (30-51) tonight at the AT&T Center and with the No. 2 seed in the West locked up, expect the Spurs' key players to get minimal time on the court.

The Spurs recently added former NBA player Tracy McGrady to the roster. With the team waiving forward Stephen Jackson and injuries to Boris Diaw, the Spurs needed a fresh body on a thin roster.

The good news is that Manu Ginobili will play tonight while Tiago Splitter and Tracy McGrady will be out of action tonight.

The Spurs lead the regular season series versus the Wolves 2-1. In the last meeting, the Spurs lost to the Wolves 107-83 in Minnesota. Ricky Rubio led the Timberwolves recording a triple-double, with 21 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists. However, San Antonio has not been kind to Minnesota as the Wolves have lost 16 games in a row in the Alamo City.

The Spurs are coming off a 106-116 loss to the Warriors in Oakland. Gary Neal led San Antonio with 25 points.

The Wolves are coming off a 86-96 loss to the Jazz in Minnesota. Minnesota was paced by Derrick Williams' 18 points.

And as the Spurs and Wolves close out their respective regular seasons, here are five things to watch for during tonight's game:

• In April, Spurs' Tim Duncan is averaging 19.7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2.67 blocks while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 84.6 percent from the foul line.

• The Wolves are 1-19 when scoring less than 90 points.

Before the San Antonio Spurs tipped off against the Golden State Warriors, Gregg Popovich got asked if he was that dreaded word again. He was asked if he was "happy" with the team's play going into the playoffs this season.

Happy is not a word that coaches usually respond to. But… this is probably the least… let me put it a different way. We’ve been playing better most any other year going into the playoffs, compared to this year.

The team has been faltering down the stretch this season, but at least in past years they had something to fall back on. With the team using more of a balance tilted more to the offensive side of the ball, the Spurs have not only been having trouble scoring without Tony Parker but also having a hard time defending when the pressure is to make up what they've lost on both sides of the ball. (Blogs.MercuryNews.com)

Pop also made it known whether it was just a team issue or a health issue.

We take a break from the Tracy McGrady-Spurs news to bring you this nerd-tastic photo.

When San Antonio Spurs fans learned of big man Aron Baynes heading to the Spurs, the Internet blew up with references between his last name and of "Bane," the villain of Batman lore. Some fans even photoshopped the famous Bane mask on Baynes' face but it seems he might prefer another villain's mask.

Baynes showed off his new mantelpiece which combines a Spurs team cap with, wait for it, a mask of Star Wars villain Darth Vader!

Check out the epic photo of what might be considered the most awesome mantelpiece ever!

Glad to be a Spur. It will be an honor to play for this great organization and the amazing city of San Antonio. -- Newest Spur Tracy McGrady (via Facebook)

The biggest news in San Antonio isn't the San Antonio Spurs' struggles on offense without Tony Parker. In fact, the big news on Tuesday may have been the cure for that problem. The team has agreed to terms with Tracy McGrady, adding a ball handler, shooter, and scorer to the team that was desperately needed.

When Parker was out of action during this past stretch, the San Antonio offense struggling was an understatement. With the exception of the most recent game against the Golden State Warriors, the Spurs have not been able to crack 100 points in those games. The 33-year old McGrady brings a different element to this Spurs team, regardless of his 5.3ppg in 16mpg with the Atlanta Hawks last season.

If you’re frustrated by the San Antonio Spurs’ recent performance and are worried about their chances entering the playoffs, Matt Bonner has provided you with a little something to laugh about.

Bonner takes on an alter ego as “Coach B” to teach the fundamentals of the game in a video series that I am just now learning about. Apparently there are quite a few of these videos.

In a recent episode, Bonner visited Chicago’s iO Theater, which is one of the best improv venues in the country, and was a starting point for many comedians you’ve seen on Saturday Night Live.

Tracy McGrady has agreed to join the San Antonio Spurs according to Yahoo! Sports.

@WojYahooNBA

Tracy McGrady will sign with the San Antonio Spurs for the rest of the season, league sources tell Y! Sports.

This is likely with the injuries that have plagued the team this season with Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Boris Diaw, and the release of Stephen Jackson. McGrady adds some offense for the struggling Spurs. It is also worth mentioning that T-Mac is playoff eligible since he has not played in the NBA this season.

Every person that has participated in sports has, at some point or another, hit a wall in which their body has appeared to reach its limits. This is true even for those not particularly athletically blessed. Anyone with an inkling of competitive spirit knows the triumphs and tribulations that come with pushing past those limits. 

This is what makes a marathon particularly compelling.

There are few things in life that human beings willingly subject themselves to as physically and spiritually taxing as the 26-mile trek from start to finish. For those participating in Monday's Boston Marathon, the finish line should have marked one of their lifetime achievements. Instead, two explosions left a completely different mark altogether. 

It is often said that the worst in humanity often brings out the best in humanity, and Monday was no different. If the marathon is supposed to embody the human will overcoming, the immediate reaction to Monday's events showed us more. 

There were stories of marathoners, who by all rights should have had nothing left, pushing past the finish line and straight to hospitals to volunteer to give blood. There were emergency responders and civilians alike, ignoring their own survival instincts, and running towards the blast zone to save lives even as the potential for more danger remained a very real possibility. 

In this space we follow and write about basketball because the players involved let our imaginations run wild. In life we get caught up reading about the actions of these more ordinary people because they inspire. 

Following their lead but not nearly living up to their actions, people from all over the country have flocked to see how they can help. It's in our nature. 

With that in mind a few basketball artists have committed to donating all proceeds from their prints for the month of April towards Boston relief funds. Expecting a long playoff push from the Spurs, I will be donating all proceeds from April through the end of the playoffs. It's admittedly not much, but every little bit counts.