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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Tim Duncan erased any doubts about his
All-Star credentials with an impressive performance in the NBA's
toughest arena.
|  | | Tim Duncan's inside game was a nightmare for Vlade Divac and the Kings. |
Duncan had a season-high 36 points and 21 rebounds as the San
Antonio Spurs beat Sacramento 97-91 Thursday night in the Kings'
first loss in regulation at Arco Arena this season.
Derek Anderson got 15 of his 20 points in the second half as San
Antonio held on late for just its second victory in the last six
games.
"This was long overdue for us," Duncan said. "This will give
us the kind of momentum and the kind of confidence we need."
The win was big for the Spurs, and it was terribly important for
Duncan, the MVP of the 1999 NBA Finals who was hobbled by a left
knee injury and mired in a curious shooting slump earlier this
season. Some questioned whether he should make the All-Star team in
a conference chock-full of talented forwards.
But while carrying the Spurs through a brutal, full-contact win
in front of Sacramento's screaming fans, Duncan was in control of
his usual array of feathery jumpers and tough inside shots.
"I've been feeling real good lately," Duncan said. "My shot's
coming back, and I'm feeling good out on the court. It's much
better."
Chris Webber had 23 points and 11 rebounds but shot 8-for-25
while playing the second half with his left eye half-swollen shut
after being poked by David Robinson. Peja Stojakovic also had 23
points for Sacramento, which missed 14 free throws and moved the
ball with none of its usual flair in the second half.
"It was an off night for us," Stojakovic said. "We were
trying to be patient on offense, but the ball just wouldn't go in.
We tried to play our style of game, and we just had a really bad
night."
Still, Sacramento pulled within 93-91 with 1:16 left on seven
straight points by Webber. Duncan hit a short hook shot to put San
Antonio up by four, and Webber was called for an offensive foul
with 37 seconds left.
"It's safe to say that Tim is back," said Robinson, who had 11
points while battling foul trouble. "The last couple of weeks, his
shot has looked good. I like the way he's moving out there."
The Kings, who still have the league's best home record at 18-4,
previously lost overtime games at Arco to the Lakers, Indiana and
Philadelphia. San Antonio held the Kings to 4-of-17 shooting in the
fourth quarter.
The loss also knocked the Kings out of first place in the
Pacific Division, where they were percentage points ahead of
Portland. That means Mike Dunleavy will coach the Western
Conference's All-Stars if the Trail Blazers beat Minnesota on
Saturday.
Sacramento had its four-game home winning streak snapped while
losing for just the second time in seven games. The Kings were
outrebounded 57-40.
Duncan went 15-of-23 from the field and got five offensive
rebounds in his battle with Webber. Though the Kings' star has
better statistics, Duncan usually wins their head-to-head matchups;
Duncan had 23 points and a career-high 23 rebounds in San Antonio's
last visit to Sacramento.
Two days after shooting 56 percent in a 130-104 win over New
Jersey, the Kings shot just 39 percent from the field. Duncan and
Anderson combined for more field goals (13) than the Kings (12) in
the second half.
Robinson accidentally poked Webber in the left eye as they
battled for a rebound with about four minutes left in the first
half. Robinson's finger actually got underneath Webber's eyelid on
the play, and Webber crumpled to the court.
Webber tried to keep playing, but went to the locker room
moments later when his eye swelled. He got treatment and returned
for the second half.
"I'm in a lot of pain right now, but hopefully it'll be OK so I
can play on Saturday (against the Clippers)," Webber said. "It's
blurry and the light is definitely hurting it. There's a good
chance it could get worse by morning."
Game notes
Neither team led by more than six points until the closing
minutes. ... Earlier Thursday, the Spurs placed backup forward Ira
Newble on the injured list and activated Shawnelle Scott. ... When
Webber went to the locker room late in the first half, he angrily
clobbered a TNT television light tripod set up in the Arco Arena
hallway. ... Vlade Divac got a technical foul moments after
Webber's offensive foul with 37 seconds left, sealing San Antonio's
win.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Sacramento Clubhouse
RECAPS
Dallas 120
Vancouver 83
Portland 92
Indiana 82
Minnesota 109
Orlando 100
Utah 98
Denver 96
San Antonio 97
Sacramento 91
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