Tony Parker and Eva Longoria are now engaged to be married.

"Tony flew into Los Angeles last night after his game and surprised Eva at her home as she got off work," Liza Anderson told The Associated Press on Thursday via e-mail.

"The proposal was romantic and perfect. The couple plans to wed in France in the summer of 2007 in what they describe as a big, happy ceremony with lots of family and friends."

Manu Ginobili said he continues to feel better but will have his back re-examined by the Spurs' doctors today in San Antonio.

Ginobili hasn't played since bruising his lower back late in the third quarter of Friday's loss to Dallas.

"I'm still not able to run properly," said Ginobili, who did some shooting after the Spurs' shootaround Wednesday morning. "When I put my body weight on my right leg, it pinches here in the back.

"The other day, I tried to work out and unintentionally jumped and it pinched. So I'm not ready."

For years, Ray Allen has complained about Bruce Bowen's defensive tactics. So it came as no surprise to him that the San Antonio guard has been warned by the NBA about his habit of sliding under players while they're shooting.

"What he does on the court, he does," Allen said, "and we know, around the league, what everybody does.

"When you do something on the grand stage in New York City, everybody definitely pays attention."

Stu Jackson, NBA vice president of operations, chose not to fine Bowen, but gave him a warning after a recent incident involving Bowen and Knicks guard Steve Francis.

"I don't know if that will be enough," Allen said. "The one good thing is now he knows that they [the referees] are watching it."

Tim Duncan became the third player in Spurs history to reach 15,000 points, accomplishing the feat Sunday night against Seattle.

Duncan came into the game needing 10 points and reached 15,000 when the Sonic's Nick Collison was called for goaltending on Duncan's short jumper with 2:05 left in the first half. It gave San Antonio a 47-37 lead. Duncan had 10 points and nine rebounds in the first half.

San Antonio shooting guard Manu Ginobili missed the Spurs' game Sunday night against Seattle because of a lower back contusion.

Coach Gregg Popovich said he didn't expect Ginobili to miss an extended amount of time.

Popovich said while he doesn't expect Ginobili to be ready for Monday's game at Golden State, he might be able to play Wednesday at Utah.

"It's probably loosened up a little bit, but not enough for him to play," Popovich said.

Mavericks small forward Josh Howard returned to action Friday against the Spurs.

Howard, 26, suffered a sprained left ankle in the second quarter of Dallas' loss to Golden State on November 6 and missed the next eight games. The 6-7 swingman is averaging 16.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in three games this season.

Spurs coach Greg Popovich pulled Bruce Bowen aside Friday morning and told him to forget NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson's warning about his defensive tendancies. Keep playing, Popovich said, the same way you've always played.

"He told me, 'Hey, I need you to be who you are,' " Bowen said. " 'Not this guy worrying about what someone is going to say or do regarding you.'

"Once I got his word, it was almost like, 'You may marry my daughter.' I was like, 'Well, OK.' "

With Popovich's permission, Bowen returned to the same harassing ways that have made him one of the league's best defenders ? and one of its most infuriating pests.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich criticized the NBA on Friday for warning Bruce Bowen about his defensive "tactics" and complained league officials are "trying to change the way my best defender plays."

NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, who handles disciplinary matters for the league, called Bowen at home on Sunday night and told him he needed to watch his feet and give shooters room to land. If not, Jackson said, Bowen faced a possible fine or suspension.

Popovich said the league never informed Spurs officials of the conversation and he learned of it only after reading Wednesday's Express-News.

"They didn't bother to call the owner, the (general manager) or the coach," Popovich said. "No one. They're trying to change the way Bruce plays and we don't even know about it?

"Secondly, what they're telling him is highly inaccurate. It's unfounded and fueled by media pressure and player complaints."

Isiah Thomas denied he said anything about breaking Bruce Bowen's neck during their profanity-laced altercation Saturday night in San Antonio, and defended his actions of picking a fight with a player.

Bowen told a San Antonio newspaper he heard Thomas yell to break his neck.

"That's not true," Thomas said. "I said the next time he goes up, stick your foot underneath his like he sticks his under yours and see how he feels if his foot is broken."

Before facing the Cavaliers last night, Thomas said he did not regret seeing the replays of his verbal attack on Bowen and his yelling to his players, "Next time he does that to you, break his [bleeping] foot."

Thomas also got into it with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and had to be held back by assistant coach Herb Williams.

Luis Scola's ability to finally come over to the NBA may be dependent on how Fabricio Oberto plays for the Spurs.  In the beginning of the 2006-2007 season, he has been very productive and if it continues, the Spurs may find a healthier market for Scola's draft rights, which they have been actively shopping.

They attempted to trade his draft rights this past summer, but couldn't reach a deal.

The Spurs have not ruled out signing Scola for themselves, especially if Robert Horry retires.