Duncan and tonight

[Rummpd]

Popovich could rest TD for three reasons tonight IMO:

1) Tweaked ankle or foot when he was pulled down last night. (any updates, he went to the locker room early to ice according to Utah TV that was covering the games on NBA pass?)
2) Still per NBATV suffering from post flu symptoms
3) If Spurs beat Kings without him great for team confidence


Duncan will surely want to play but with a 3 game lead in loss column to Mavs (I do not think Spurs can catch Pistons who have recovered their stride seemingly) and tie breaker, Pop might pull the plug.

[themvp]

Agreed

[smeagol]

4) Sacramento's big men can be controlled by Nazr, Rasho and Horry.

I say rest Timmy

[boutons_]

Brad Miller is another big who doesn't block shots nor dunk.

I remember an important game @ARCO a couple years ago where Brad had a standing-under-the-basket winning put-in at the buzzer that got blocked by some dude flying by because Brad didn't go up strong and dunk. Kings lost.

And of course, he has that hilarious way of frowning that looks like he's fixin' to cry! :lol

Actually, Tim's seems so much more mobile these last couple of weeks that I bet the PF not bothering him much or at all. He'd refuse to sit tonight. I'd like to see him play and play well which would indicate that the PF is really less of a problem.

[pache100]

I'll get on the "Rest Timmy" train. I think we can win without him. Even if we lose the game, it's not that big a deal as has been pointed out.

[zocool16]

if tim doesn't play ill be pissed

[Lebowski Brickowski]

I'll get on the "Rest Timmy" train.... Even if we lose the game, it's not that big a deal as has been pointed out.

I seriously doubt that Tim feels the same way. Tim will play unless he's puking his guts up.

[Fabbs]

Rest Duncan.
The right thing to do.
zocool16 you can throw beers/shots with him after the game.

[ducks]

is that why nazr played nine minutes last night

[FromWayDowntown]

I remember an important game @ARCO a couple years ago where Brad had a standing-under-the-basket winning put-in at the buzzer that got blocked by some dude flying by because Brad didn't go up strong and dunk. Kings lost.

"some dude flying by" was Amare Stoudemire in the middle of last season.

Phoenix 125, Sacramento 123, 2/8/2005 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=250208023)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Amare Stoudemire didn't need to see the replay. He knew his game-ending block was clean.

Stoudemire blocked a shot by Brad Miller with less than a second remaining that would have tied the game, and the Phoenix Suns beat the Sacramento Kings 125-123 in a thrilling matchup of the Pacific Division's top two teams Tuesday night.

"I rotated out and blocked it perfectly," said Stoudemire, who was named an All-Star earlier in the day. "It was a great block. There was no contact. As soon as it left his hand, I hit it. It feels good to win one on defense. That was a first for me."

Miller, Chris Webber and Mike Bibby immediately began yelling at official Bernie Fryer, calling for goaltending. But several replays showed the block was good. On his way out, Webber kicked the game ball deep into the stands, and it fell just short of reaching the second level of seats. Miller hurled his headband and a sweatband.

A short while later in the locker room, Cuttino Mobley went into a tirade against the officials that lasted more than 10 minutes. Mobley said he saw Shawn Marion hold Webber's arm, allowing Stoudemire to be in position to make the block.

Mobley said he knows he'll probably be fined for the outburst.

"I don't care right now. I'm sticking up for my team," he said. "If I get fined for this, so what. It's ridiculous, man. You don't miss calls and close your eyes on purpose."

The officials were long gone by the time Mobley's rambling rip session had ended.

Steve Nash scored a season-high 33 points with 17 assists as the Suns snapped an eight-game losing streak in Arco Arena to win for the eighth time in nine games. Nash has passed for 11 or more assists in each of his last seven games.

"I enjoy setting up my team and I take shots when the opportunity's there," Nash said.

Webber had 24 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists for his third triple-double this season and second in as many games -- marking the first time in Sacramento franchise history a player has recorded back-to-back triple-doubles.

Joe Johnson scored nine of his 28 points in the fourth quarter for Phoenix, which won in Sacramento for the first time since April 9, 2000, and avenged a 113-111 loss to the Kings on Nov. 13.

"The last team to score was going to win, and that's about what happened," Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said.

The Kings were one of only two Western Conference teams the Suns hadn't beaten this season. The other is San Antonio.

Bibby had 27 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Kings after scoring 35 and 40 points in his two previous games. Sacramento lost despite scoring a season high in points and matching its season best with 12 3-pointers.

Nash's 3 with 5:39 left gave the Suns a 107-106 lead, and Marion scored the next time down to cap an 8-0 run. Miller missed a layin on a three-on-one break with less than 2 minutes remaining, then Marion tied the game at 119 on the other end. Miller's short turnaround jumper with 34.9 to go made it 123-122, but Quentin Richardson scored on the other end moments later.

Webber missed with 8 seconds on the clock, then Marion converted the second of two free throws to make it 125-123. Sacramento got a final chance, but Stoudemire made the big defensive play.

Mobley hit back-to-back 3-pointers late in the fourth quarter and finished with 23 points and eight rebounds.

The Kings fell six games behind division-leading Phoenix, which is one-half game behind the Spurs for the league's best record.

The Kings, playing with their starting lineup intact for the second straight game, took a 94-90 lead into the fourth quarter after Webber's 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds left in the third. The Kings used a 13-2 run that overlapped both quarters to build a 100-92 lead on Eddie House's 3 with 10:22 left, but couldn't hold it.

Phoenix is in a stretch where it plays seven of 13 against teams in the top six in the West -- Sacramento, Seattle, Dallas, San Antonio and Houston -- and two others are against division leaders Boston and Detroit.

The Kings also have a tough week. They play in Seattle on Thursday, then return home to host the Mavericks on Friday night.

[pache100]

I seriously doubt that Tim feels the same way. Tim will play unless he's puking his guts up.

Oh, I'm sure you're right about Tim playing. I'm just saying I think they should rest him. Alas, they have not put me on the payroll yet. And rarely respond to my emails. :lol

[zocool16]

duncan's fine. he'll play and I want him to. we have to fight for that 1st place over detroit. don't give me that shit that its impossible cuz its not. if detroit beats miami then it gets harder than ever...but its nor impossible

[Duncanoypi]

rest Timmy, he needs to...

[SAGambler]

I think it would be wise to give Tim a rest. But, I suspect, unless he's tossing his cookies all over the place, he will play.

As for catching the Pistons for HCA, I still cling to a small thread of hope, but it just doesn't look like it's going to happen.

[baseline bum]

If Pop decides to sit Timmy out I won't complain at all. With how much Tim has done for this franchise and the attitude he's shown his entire career here he's earned the right to get a little time off when he's really banged up. With that said, I doubt he misses a game before we have the West #1 clinched.

[exstatic]

rest Timmy, he needs to...
Yoda, you sound like...