SAN ANTONIO (AP) Guard Manu Ginobili was taken off the injured list by the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday after missing five games with a lower back sprain.

Ginobili, a second-year player from Argentina, is averaging 13.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists. San Antonio was 26-12 heading into Wednesday night's game against Minnesota.

The Spurs put guard Jason Hart on the injured list with left patella tendinitis.

After missing the past five games on the injured list with a strained back, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili could play tonight against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ginobili practiced with the team on Monday and coach Greg Popovich says he's close to being ready.

"He looked rusty, but he looked pretty healthy," Popovich said. "He looks like he's pretty close to being able to play."

However, Popovich said that Ginobili would only be brought off the injured list if the team found it fit to do so.

Things have gone from horrible to awful for the Atlanta Hawks. Losing their last three games in blowout fashion, Michael Lee of the AJC writes that to prepare for the San Antonio Spurs, the Hawks watched film Monday from what had been the most lopsided defeat of the season -- before the 46-point debacle against the Lakers on Friday.

Before that dreadful performance in Los Angeles -- which included a franchise-low seven points by Atlanta in the first quarter -- the Hawks couldn't imagine that it would get any worse than it did Nov. 21. On that night, the Hawks lost 114-75 in San Antonio.

"It's still fresh in everybody's mind," Hawks reserve forward Alan Henderson said of the loss in San Antonio. "Those are the types of games where we made fans want to turn off the TV and not want to turn it on again -- or not come to a game. We want to make sure we don't have too many of those."

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Charlie Ward picked the San Antonio Spurs for a lot of reasons that had nothing to do with money.

His list started with the biggest Spur of them all.

``Maybe, uh, Tim Duncan,'' Ward said Saturday when asked why he took a smaller salary to join the defending NBA champs, led by the league's two-time defending MVP.

``I always want to play with the big men,'' Ward added. ``Patrick Ewing provided that for a number of years with the Knicks, and Tim Duncan does that here.''

Ward was cut Tuesday by Phoenix, a day after the Suns obtained him in a multiplayer trade with New York headlined by Stephon Marbury and Antonio McDyess.

Ward was contacted by several teams looking for point guard help, but said San Antonio was always his preference even though other teams could offer much more money.

``I had my choice ... and I made it clear it was not going to be a financial decision,'' he said. ``It's a team-oriented game, and this team plays as a unit. ... I want to be a part of that.''

Ward didn't wait long to become part of it. He entered the game with 2:18 left in the first quarter, and before the period ended, he had two assists.

Ward will wear No. 17, the same number he wore as a football player at Florida State, where he won the 1993 Heisman Trophy. In New York, he wore No. 21, which belongs to Duncan in San Antonio.

Ward said he gave some thought to rejoining former New York coach Jeff Van Gundy in Houston, one of the teams most interested in getting him.

``But it always comes down to where you want to be,'' Ward said.

He reached a deal late Thursday with the Spurs that will pay him about $550,000 for the rest of the season, just a fraction of the $6 million he was earning with the Knicks.

As a backup to point guard Tony Parker, Ward said he expects to bring the same defensive skills and court energy to San Antonio that he provided during his nine-plus years with New York.

``I'm not a superstar,'' he said. ``I'm a role player, and I know my role.''

Ward averaged 8.7 points and 4.9 assists in 35 games with the Knicks this season. He is also among the league leaders in 3-point shooting (42.8 percent).

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Former Knicks point guard Charlie Ward chose connections over cash in signing a deal with the San Antonio Spurs.

Terms of the deal were not released. Because the Spurs are already above the league's salary cap, they were limited to being able to pay Ward the minimum of $1 million, prorated for the number of games left in the season.

Agent Craig McKenzie said the deal was reached late Thursday.

``He always had in mind San Antonio,'' McKenzie said Friday. ``But it was a tough decision for him _ he turned probably triple the salary to sign with the Spurs.''

McKenzie said 14 NBA teams contacted him about the 10-year veteran, with the most interest coming from San Antonio, Houston and New Jersey.

The chance to win a title also factored into Ward's decision to join the defending league champions, who have won 15 of their last 16 games after a slow start.

``Every player wants to win,'' McKenzie said. ``He's been to the (NBA) finals before and he wants to be there again.''

In joining the Spurs, Ward will wear the colors of the team that swept the Knicks in the 1999 championship series. The victory gave San Antonio its first NBA title.

But McKenzie said the Spurs' wholesome image played a big role in Ward's choice.

Ward, a devout Christian, has strong ties to several ministries in San Antonio, and he is also a close friend of Spurs forward Bruce Bowen and other players.

``The character of that team swayed the decision,'' McKenzie said. ``He told me a week ago he had a dream that he'd be wearing No. 17 and playing for the Spurs.''

The 6-foot-2 Ward wore that number when he led Florida State to the national football championship in 1993 as a quarterback. He won the Heisman Trophy that year, but opted for the NBA instead. He wore No. 21 in New York.

In 580 regular season games with the Knicks, he averaged 6.5 points, 4.2 assists and 1.28 steals per game. This season his numbers were slightly higher in each category.

Spurs officials said Ward's versatility will be an asset on the court and in the locker room.

``He is a veteran leader and a proven winner,'' San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford said. ``He is a well-rounded player who can impact the game on both offense and defense.''

The Spurs have been looking all season for a reliable backup for Tony Parker at point guard.

Ward is known for his defense, a skill prized above all others in San Antonio. He is also among the NBA's top 10 in 3-point shooting accuracy this season (42.8 percent in 35 games).

He was part of Monday's trade in which Phoenix sent Stephon Marbury, Penny Hardaway and Cezary Trybanski to the Knicks. The Suns also got Antonio McDyess, Howard Eisley, Maciej Lampe, the rights to Milos Vujanic, and two first-round draft picks.

Phoenix placed Ward on waivers a day later to avoid having to pay him the full $6 million salary he was earning with New York.

McKenzie said Ward was en route to San Antonio on Friday and unavailable to comment. A news conference is scheduled for Saturday afternoon prior to the Spurs' home game against Indiana.

Ward is expected to be in uniform for the Pacers game, the Spurs said.

To make room for him on the roster, San Antonio placed reserve point guard Alex Garcia on the injured list.

It looks like Charlie Ward is heading to the San Antonio Spurs.

"Ward has told friends, including some of the Spurs, over the previous two days that he wants to sign with the team. Though nervous Ward might experience a last-minute change of heart ? or be swayed by a late offer from another team ? Spurs officials were optimistic of completing the deal once the veteran point guard clears waivers at 10 a.m. today."

On Thursday evening, Ward's agent, Craig McKenzie, said Ward was still considering and New Jersey but officials from both teams  said they expected Ward to sign with the Spurs.

"The Phoenix Suns, according to a league source, are expected to release Ward and save nearly $3 million in salary. Once Ward clears waivers he becomes an unrestricted free agent. The veteran point guard is expected to draw interest from several contending teams, including the Spurs and Mavs."

It is said that the Spurs, who are desperately looking for a backup for Tony Parker, could use retired center David Robinson to recruit him to sign with the team.

Others teams said to be interested are Indiana, Houston, Detroit and Orlando.