Duncan, Ginobili to sit out Rockets game

Thursday’s anticipated early-season matchup between the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs and the 5-0 Houston Rockets will not be as meaningful as expected.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich has a habit of resting his veteran players from time to time during the season, and he has decided to keep guard Manu Ginobili and forward Tim Duncan out of the lineup for the game against the Rockets.

Three other Spurs players — guard Marco Belinelli (mild strain, right groin), guard Patty Mills (right shoulder surgery) and Tiago Splitter (tightness, right calf) — are listed as being out for Thursday’s game as well.

Duncan and Ginobili are also on the list of players out for Thursday’s game, although no injury is listed as a reason for those two. In both cases “rest” is the reason the Spurs report for their Thursday absence.

Thursday’s game is the fourth regular-season game of the season for the Spurs (2-1).