Kori Ellis
03-07-2005, 01:34 AM
Duncan injures ankle, listed day-to-day
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030705.1D.BKNspurs.jazz.gamer.112c565e5.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
David Robinson sat in his customary second-row seat. Avery Johnson arrived in the second quarter, having flown in from Houston where his Dallas Mavericks had lost earlier in the afternoon. Steve Kerr commuted from San Diego.
While Sean Elliott's former teammates came from near and far to honor him Sunday night at the SBC Center, the present-day Spurs had added reason to celebrate.
Tim Duncan didn't need crutches to attend the postgame ceremony.
Manu Ginobili kicked off the evening's festivities by scoring 31 points to help the Spurs hold off Utah for a 101-94 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 18,797. But on a night devoted to retiring Elliott's No. 32 jersey, the team was happy enough to learn Duncan will wear No. 21 again sooner rather than later.
Duncan sprained his right ankle less than four minutes into the second half. Though he did not return after being helped off the court, the injury was classified as a grade 1 sprain, the least serious.
X-rays were negative, and team officials said the ankle was stable. Duncan, who missed two games after spraining the same ankle last month, is considered day-to-day, though coach Gregg Popovich doesn't expect him to play Tuesday against New Jersey.
Duncan's teammates had reason to fear the worst after he landed on Rasho Nesterovic's foot while trying to corral a rebound under Utah's basket. He immediately grabbed his right foot and looked to be in significant pain.
"When I saw Tim go down," said Elliott, who works as the team's TV analyst, "it took me right back to when Dave broke his foot."
Robinson missed the remainder of the 1996-97 season after breaking his foot. The Spurs hope Duncan won't be sidelined more than a week.
"I'm not worried at all," Tony Parker said. "Since I've been here, we've had to learn to play without Timmy."
The Spurs did well enough without him Sunday. At the time of Duncan's injury, they trailed Utah 59-58.
Bruce Bowen, signed to replace Elliott after the 2000-01 season, shot like his predecessor, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half. Ginobili added six points in the final 30.5 seconds, all from the foul line, to close out the victory.
"He doesn't feel pressure," Popovich said of Ginobili. "He relishes it."
After back-to-back turnovers left the Spurs clinging to a 93-91 lead, Ginobili drove into the lane, pulled up and made contact with Utah guard Raja Bell. Bell, who played Ginobili physically for much of the game, was called for a foul, which the Jazz protested.
"There's not a lot that I can say to you tonight," Bell said, "that will allow me to keep my money in my pocket."
Ginobili made both of his free throws. He and Parker combined to make six more when the Jazz were forced to intentionally foul. For the night, the Spurs made shot 90.6 percent (29 of 32) at the foul line.
"That's a gross anomaly for the San Antonio Spurs," Popovich said. "That's unbelievable."
Popovich was similarly impressed by the play of his bench, particularly Beno Udrih. After Popovich yelled at him to "Compete!" in the second quarter, Udrih did just that. He scored 11 points, made 5 of 7 shots and distributed three assists, helping steady the Spurs after Utah erased their 14-point first-half lead.
"He looked for his shots," Popovich said. "He didn't just go out there and try not to make mistakes. I thought it was his best performance in a while."
The Spurs will need more of the same if Duncan is unable to play this week. After facing the Nets, the Spurs travel to Phoenix on Wednesday.
"(Duncan) told me he was feeling pretty good," Ginobili said. "He's probably going to miss a couple of games, but it wasn't that bad."
For that, the Spurs are glad. None of them wanted to tarnish Elliott's night.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA030705.1D.BKNspurs.jazz.gamer.112c565e5.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
David Robinson sat in his customary second-row seat. Avery Johnson arrived in the second quarter, having flown in from Houston where his Dallas Mavericks had lost earlier in the afternoon. Steve Kerr commuted from San Diego.
While Sean Elliott's former teammates came from near and far to honor him Sunday night at the SBC Center, the present-day Spurs had added reason to celebrate.
Tim Duncan didn't need crutches to attend the postgame ceremony.
Manu Ginobili kicked off the evening's festivities by scoring 31 points to help the Spurs hold off Utah for a 101-94 victory in front of a sellout crowd of 18,797. But on a night devoted to retiring Elliott's No. 32 jersey, the team was happy enough to learn Duncan will wear No. 21 again sooner rather than later.
Duncan sprained his right ankle less than four minutes into the second half. Though he did not return after being helped off the court, the injury was classified as a grade 1 sprain, the least serious.
X-rays were negative, and team officials said the ankle was stable. Duncan, who missed two games after spraining the same ankle last month, is considered day-to-day, though coach Gregg Popovich doesn't expect him to play Tuesday against New Jersey.
Duncan's teammates had reason to fear the worst after he landed on Rasho Nesterovic's foot while trying to corral a rebound under Utah's basket. He immediately grabbed his right foot and looked to be in significant pain.
"When I saw Tim go down," said Elliott, who works as the team's TV analyst, "it took me right back to when Dave broke his foot."
Robinson missed the remainder of the 1996-97 season after breaking his foot. The Spurs hope Duncan won't be sidelined more than a week.
"I'm not worried at all," Tony Parker said. "Since I've been here, we've had to learn to play without Timmy."
The Spurs did well enough without him Sunday. At the time of Duncan's injury, they trailed Utah 59-58.
Bruce Bowen, signed to replace Elliott after the 2000-01 season, shot like his predecessor, scoring 12 of his 18 points in the second half. Ginobili added six points in the final 30.5 seconds, all from the foul line, to close out the victory.
"He doesn't feel pressure," Popovich said of Ginobili. "He relishes it."
After back-to-back turnovers left the Spurs clinging to a 93-91 lead, Ginobili drove into the lane, pulled up and made contact with Utah guard Raja Bell. Bell, who played Ginobili physically for much of the game, was called for a foul, which the Jazz protested.
"There's not a lot that I can say to you tonight," Bell said, "that will allow me to keep my money in my pocket."
Ginobili made both of his free throws. He and Parker combined to make six more when the Jazz were forced to intentionally foul. For the night, the Spurs made shot 90.6 percent (29 of 32) at the foul line.
"That's a gross anomaly for the San Antonio Spurs," Popovich said. "That's unbelievable."
Popovich was similarly impressed by the play of his bench, particularly Beno Udrih. After Popovich yelled at him to "Compete!" in the second quarter, Udrih did just that. He scored 11 points, made 5 of 7 shots and distributed three assists, helping steady the Spurs after Utah erased their 14-point first-half lead.
"He looked for his shots," Popovich said. "He didn't just go out there and try not to make mistakes. I thought it was his best performance in a while."
The Spurs will need more of the same if Duncan is unable to play this week. After facing the Nets, the Spurs travel to Phoenix on Wednesday.
"(Duncan) told me he was feeling pretty good," Ginobili said. "He's probably going to miss a couple of games, but it wasn't that bad."
For that, the Spurs are glad. None of them wanted to tarnish Elliott's night.