Danny Granger took a free-agent pitch from Gregg Popovich late Thursday night, then politely told said “no thanks” and agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Another potential Spurs free agent target, Glen Davis, will be waiting for him in Hollywood. A third, Caron Butler, also turned down the Spurs and will reportedly sign with rival Oklahoma City once he clears waivers this week.

If the Spurs are indeed losing ground in the Western Conference arms race, you wouldn't know it by hanging around the AT&T Center.

“We're not losing sleep over it,” Popovich said.

With 24 games until the start of the playoffs, the Spurs coach has enough to keep him up at night.

Friday, the Spurs' roster as constituted was enough to get by the pesky Charlotte Bobcats, 92-82.

Tim Duncan had 17 points and 16 rebounds to head a list of six players in double figures, as the Spurs overcame a horrendous start, 19 turnovers and a 14-point first-half deficit.

“I don't think we are starting with the same energy we bring when we are down,” guard Manu Ginobili said. “Today, it felt like we had to be in trouble to react. Against some teams, you won't be able to come back.”

With the win, the Spurs improved to 42-16, assuring their 17th consecutive winning season. That marks the second-longest streak all-time behind the 19 straight cobbled together by the John Stockton-Karl Malone Utah Jazz.

The Spurs won for the fourth time in five games without All-Star point guard Tony Parker, who is on track to return from a Popovich-imposed rest break Sunday against Dallas.

In that, Parker represents a more significant reinforcement than any of the free agents who spurned the Spurs this week.

“We're very confident in what we have,” guard Danny Green said. “We still have our foundation, and the pieces around it. We've been OK with it the last couple of years.”

The Spurs started and ended Friday 11/2 games behind OKC in the West standings.

To remain there, the Spurs had to first claw their way past a young Bobcats team playing hard for first-year coach Steve Clifford and appears on pace to earn an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Al Jefferson had 20 points, and Josh McRoberts chipped in 10 assists, as Charlotte (27-31) controlled a sloppy first half.

The Spurs did not take their first lead of the game until 5:21 left in the third quarter, when Ginobili — who ended with 15 points — knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 51-49.

The score was knotted at 80 with 2:48 left in the game before the Spurs seized it by the throat. Duncan hit the go-ahead jumper to ignite a game-closing 12-2 run as the Bobcats would manage only one field goal the rest of the way.

“It's frustrating at times when we're not able to come out of the gate and play the way we want,” said Duncan, who passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th on the all-time rebounding list. “But to continue to play through the ups and downs and find a way to win a game like that is good for us.”

The biggest shot in the decisive spurt came on a play Charlotte guard Gary Neal had seen before. Acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline, Neal spent his first three seasons with the Spurs.

Coming out of a timeout, Patty Mills hit Duncan rolling to the basket. When Neal rotated off of Marco Belinelli to help, Duncan found the NBA 3-point champion to make it 85-80.

“I made a couple 3s like that from Timmy over (all) the games I played here,” said Neal, who had 15 points in his Bobcats debut.

Said Duncan, cracking wise at his former teammate's expense: “We know he's a bad defender, and all he wants to do is shoot. We took advantage of that.”

Thanks to a fourth-quarter push, and knowledge that help is coming in the form of a healthier Parker, the Spurs could sleep soundly Friday.

For now, that will have to be enough.

jmcdonald @express-news.net Twitter: @JMcDonald_SAEN

Danny Granger took a free-agent pitch from Gregg Popovich late Thursday night, then politely told said “no thanks” and agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.

Another potential Spurs free agent target, Glen Davis, will be waiting for him in Hollywood. A third, Caron Butler, also turned down the Spurs and will reportedly sign with rival Oklahoma City once he clears waivers this week.

If the Spurs are indeed losing ground in the Western Conference arms race, you wouldn't know it by hanging around the AT&T Center.

“We're not losing sleep over it,” Popovich said.

With 24 games until the start of the playoffs, the Spurs coach has enough to keep him up at night.

Friday, the Spurs' roster as constituted was enough to get by the pesky Charlotte Bobcats, 92-82.

Tim Duncan had 17 points and 16 rebounds to head a list of six players in double figures, as the Spurs overcame a horrendous start, 19 turnovers and a 14-point first-half deficit.

“I don't think we are starting with the same energy we bring when we are down,” guard Manu Ginobili said. “Today, it felt like we had to be in trouble to react. Against some teams, you won't be able to come back.”

With the win, the Spurs improved to 42-16, assuring their 17th consecutive winning season. That marks the second-longest streak all-time behind the 19 straight cobbled together by the John Stockton-Karl Malone Utah Jazz.

The Spurs won for the fourth time in five games without All-Star point guard Tony Parker, who is on track to return from a Popovich-imposed rest break Sunday against Dallas.

In that, Parker represents a more significant reinforcement than any of the free agents who spurned the Spurs this week.

“We're very confident in what we have,” guard Danny Green said. “We still have our foundation, and the pieces around it. We've been OK with it the last couple of years.”

The Spurs started and ended Friday 11/2 games behind OKC in the West standings.

To remain there, the Spurs had to first claw their way past a young Bobcats team playing hard for first-year coach Steve Clifford and appears on pace to earn an Eastern Conference playoff berth.

Al Jefferson had 20 points, and Josh McRoberts chipped in 10 assists, as Charlotte (27-31) controlled a sloppy first half.

The Spurs did not take their first lead of the game until 5:21 left in the third quarter, when Ginobili — who ended with 15 points — knocked down a 3-pointer to make it 51-49.

The score was knotted at 80 with 2:48 left in the game before the Spurs seized it by the throat. Duncan hit the go-ahead jumper to ignite a game-closing 12-2 run as the Bobcats would manage only one field goal the rest of the way.

“It's frustrating at times when we're not able to come out of the gate and play the way we want,” said Duncan, who passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 12th on the all-time rebounding list. “But to continue to play through the ups and downs and find a way to win a game like that is good for us.”

The biggest shot in the decisive spurt came on a play Charlotte guard Gary Neal had seen before. Acquired from Milwaukee at the trade deadline, Neal spent his first three seasons with the Spurs.

Coming out of a timeout, Patty Mills hit Duncan rolling to the basket. When Neal rotated off of Marco Belinelli to help, Duncan found the NBA 3-point champion to make it 85-80.

“I made a couple 3s like that from Timmy over (all) the games I played here,” said Neal, who had 15 points in his Bobcats debut.

Said Duncan, cracking wise at his former teammate's expense: “We know he's a bad defender, and all he wants to do is shoot. We took advantage of that.”

Thanks to a fourth-quarter push, and knowledge that help is coming in the form of a healthier Parker, the Spurs could sleep soundly Friday.

For now, that will have to be enough.