Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili to Sit out Spurs Game vs. Rockets

A marquee matchup between the San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets has lost some of its luster, as a couple of key players will be riding the bench.   

According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili are two of four Spurs sitting out Thursday night's nationally televised (TNT) Western Conference showdown:

The good news for Spurs fans is there are no injury concerns for Duncan or Ginobili. Gregg Popovich isn't afraid to sit anyone in the regular season, giving his star players rest regardless of which opponent San Antonio is facing. 

Before a hyped-up 2012 game against the Miami Heat in which Duncan, Ginobili, Tony Parker and Danny Green didn't play, Popovich told Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News that it's about the bigger picture instead of being popular:

The Spurs (2-1) have proven with their incredible run of success that Popovich's strategy works, so it's hard to argue with it. 

Houston is an undefeated 5-0 to start the season, so San Antonio will need to play at a high level without two of its key players to take the victory at the Toyota Center.