"For Spurs guard Manu Ginobili, the wait is almost over.

Out since Jan. 2 with a fractured shooting hand, Ginobili missed 22 games recovering from the break and the subsequent surgery to repair it.

Now, he is one practice away from making his return.

In a tiny gym at an obscure community college in midtown Manhattan this morning, Ginobili's availability for Saturday's game at New Jersey will be determined.

It will be Ginobili's first chance at a full-contact practice since the injury.

With Ginobili having already been medically cleared to play, coach Gregg Popovich will make the final determination based on the guard's general conditioning level. "