Los Angeles - The San Antonio Spurs are to be without Manu Ginobili for the rest of the season and the playoffs after tests revealed a stress fracture in his right ankle.

Ginobili experienced stiffness Sunday during the Spurs' 101-81 road loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The
31-year-old Argentine Olympian returned to San Antonio and underwent a CT scan and an MRI Monday.

When the results showed the stress fracture, the club decided to shut down their former All-Star guard for the rest of the season with no timetable for his return.

Ginobili began the season on the injured list after left ankle surgery in September but returned November 24 after missing 12 games.

In late January and early February, Ginobili looked to be back to his old form, averaging 24 points in six games, including three with 30 points or more. However, a stress reaction, a precursor to a stress fracture, was discovered just after the mid-February All-Star Game.

Ginobil sat out 19 games before coming back on March 25, and Sunday's contest was his sixth since returning to the lineup.

After scoring 16 points in a victory over Indiana Friday, Ginobili reported that he felt "super."

For his injury-abbreviated season, Ginobili averaged 15.5 points per game, 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 44 games, seven of which he started. (dpa)