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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
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SHOT CHART
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GAME FLOW
SAN ANTONIO (AP) – The San Antonio Spurs used a player who
wasn't even in the building and a coach who was gone before
halftime to help them win an emotion-filled game.
|  | | Gregg Popovich disagreed strongly with a flagrant foul call in the second quarter, and his ejection helped motivate his Spurs. |
Derek Anderson, who was not in the Alamodome on Monday night as
he starts to recover from a separated shoulder, was a big presence.
Facing Dallas two nights after Juwan Howard's flagrant foul left
Anderson with the injury, the Spurs beat the Mavericks 100-86 to
take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals.
Tim Duncan, who took the floor wearing a white armband with
"DA, 1" written in black marker, led the Spurs with 25 points and
22 rebounds. Antonio Daniels, who started for Anderson, also wore
an armband and had 12 points.
The best-of-seven series shifts to Dallas for Game 3 on
Wednesday night.
"We were a little like a wounded animal tonight," said David
Robinson, who had 18 points for San Antonio. "We really did a nice
job of banding together."
The Spurs, who wanted Howard to be suspended for the midair
collision that sent Anderson crashing to the floor, took the lead
for good shortly after coach Gregg Popovich was ejected late in the
first half. Popovich flew onto the court screaming that a flagrant
foul called on Danny Ferry -- for a hard foul on Howard -- was
unfair.
"We knew tonight, because of what happened last game, the
officials wanted to keep control," Popovich said. "If anything
happened at all, they were going to call it.
"Unfortunately, we were the first to make contact and we bore
the brunt of it, which in some ways seems unfair because we didn't
do anything last game," he said.
Howard, who started the game, was 2-for-14 from the field and
had nine points and 11 rebounds.
Howard took the court to a roar of boos by Spurs fans, who booed
him almost every time he had the ball. One fan hoisted a sign
reading, "This is the NBA, not the WWF." Across the court, a
cluster of fans held up signs with Anderson's No. 1. And fans in
the balcony unfurled a giant banner that read "Juwan Coward,"
which was later taken down.
Duncan denied revenge was on his mind.
"We're here to win the series," he said. "Not settle any
payback."
Though they managed to close within eight points in the final
quarter, the Mavericks were rocked by Duncan and Robinson's
aggressive defense, if not the unusually hostile atmosphere.
"All that does is light the fuel to the oven. Unfortunately,
the oven didn't get lit," Howard said. "I didn't play well
tonight. I hope we can put the whole thing behind us."
His teammates joined him in a poor night of shooting as they
finished at 34 percent. Michael Finley had 24 points on 8-for-24
shooting and Dirk Nowitzki, who went 11-for-12 from the free throw
line, was 4-of-13 from the field and had 19 points. Steve Nash, who
averaged 15.6 points during the regular season, shot 4-for-9 and
had 10 points.
"We need to shoot the ball well, especially if we hope to beat
someone like the Spurs," Finley said.
"They have two of the best shot-blockers in the game, and that
makes it tough to get our shots," Nowitzki said. "We haven't had
many open looks."
Ferry's flagrant foul came with 4:27 left in the first half,
when he fouled Howard as he drove for the basket. Popovich got a
technical for yelling about the call. Then, as his assistants held
him back, Popovich continued to holler, a second technical was
called and he was ejected.
Nowitzki made two free throws for the technicals and then Howard
made his two to give the Mavericks a 35-33 lead, their first of the
second quarter.
The game stayed close until early in the third, when Daniels
sparked an 18-4 run by nailing a 3-pointer and then spinning around
the basket and dropping in a bank shot.
Howard responded with a basket, but Terry Porter then hit a
3-pointer. After Dallas' Shawn Bradley and Duncan each made a
basket, Daniels stripped the ball from Howard and Ferry hit a
fast-break 3-pointer. Daniels followed that with a 3.
"I thought about DA a lot during the game," Daniels said.
"You miss his smile and his attitude. He's as big off the court
for us as he is on the court."
Robinson's jumper made it 68-51 with 4:29 left in the period.
With two 3-pointers by Howard Eisley and four free throws and a
basket by Nowitzki, Dallas closed to 75-67 early in the fourth but
got no closer.
Porter had 15 points for the Spurs.
Game notes
Duncan set a Spurs playoff record for most rebounds in a
half with 15. It was Duncan's career high for rebounds in the
playoffs. ... Daniels made his first start since Jan. 25 at
Sacramento. He started 23 games during the regular season. ...
Anderson played in all 82 regular-season games and was the Spurs'
No. 2 scorer at 15.5 points a game. ... Robinson received a
thunderous ovation when he was presented with the NBA Sportsmanship
Award before tipoff.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Dallas Clubhouse
San Antonio Clubhouse
Mavericks-Spurs Series Page
Retribution? Ferry called for flagrant, Popovich ejected
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Tim Duncan tells how the Spurs won Game 2 against Dallas (Courtesy: TNT Sports).
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Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is pleased that his team held their composure.
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Don Nelson was impressed with the Spurs' performance, but remains confident the Mavs can win.
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David Robinson says winning without Derrick Anderson gives San Antonio a big boost in confidence.
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