SAN ANTONIO - TIM Duncan scored 21 points and Argentina's Manu Ginobili added 15 in his second game back from an ankle injury to spark the San Antonio Spurs past Chicago 98-88 in an NBA game on Wednesday.

San Antonio's George Hill, playing more often with French guard Tony Parker injured, came off the bench to contribute 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Spurs, who stretched their win streak to three games in a row.

Ben Gordon scored 23 points and Drew Gooden added 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls, who lost for the fourth time in six games.

The Spurs improved to 8-6, one game behind Southwest division leader Houston, while the Bulls slid to 7-9.

Ginobili missed the Spurs' first 12 games following ankle surgery in the off-season and re-injuring the ankle at the Beijing Olympics.

The NBA's 2008 Sixth Man of the Year received a standing ovation in his home season debut.

Gordon sank a 3-pointer and then an 18-footer to give Chicago a 67-58 lead with 5:36 left in the third quarter, but San Antonio answered with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes, trimming the lead to 67-66.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Ime Udoka gave the Spurs a 72-69 lead with 2:30 left in the quarter and the Bulls, now 1-6 on the road, never led again. -- AFP