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發表於 2005-3-21 10:41 AM
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Duncan severly sprains ankle shortly after opening tip
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs insisted they weren't thinking about Sunday's matchup with the Detroit Pistons being a possible NBA Finals preview.
Too many things can happen over the next three months, they said.
Seeing Tim Duncan turn his ankle in gruesome fashion and crumple to the court in pain could've only pushed postseason thoughts further from their minds.
Despite losing Duncan moments after the tip, San Antonio put together a gritty performance.
But Chauncey Billups scored 25 points, including five straight to blunt a late Spurs' rally, and the Pistons went on to beat San Antonio 110-101 on Sunday.
Detroit has won 12 straight at home, its longest streak since the 1990-91 season.
"You want to establish home dominance and we've done that," Billups said.
Tayshaun Price scored 22, Rasheed Wallace had 15 and Richard Hamilton, limited by a sprained left ankle, added 11 points for the defending NBA champions. Reserves Carlos Arroyo had 13 and Antonio McDyess added 12.
The Western Conference-leading Spurs, who won the 2003 NBA title, had won three consecutive games and eight of 10.
They are hoping Duncan's injury is not as bad as it looked.
His right ankle turned sharply after he scored and landed on Wallace's foot under the basket in the opening minutes.
He immediately grabbed his right foot as he fell to the floor, where he stayed for a few minutes before being helped off without putting weight on his right foot. Duncan missed two games earlier this month with a sprained right ankle.
The Spurs said X-rays were negative and Duncan is day to day. Before he left the arena, Duncan said he didn't know how serious the injury was.
"It's the same ankle that he sprained a couple weeks ago, but this was much worse," San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's going to be a while."
The two-time MVP and NBA Finals MVP began the game averaging 21.2 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.7 blocks this season.
His teammates did their best to make up for the huge void.
Six Spurs scored in double figures: Devin Brown (18), Beno Udrih (15), Manu Ginobili (14), Rasho Nesterovic (13), Nazr Mohammed (13) and Tony Parker (12). Ginobili played 16 minutes after missing five straight games with a strained right groin.
"I think teams have the tendency to let down a little when Tim is not on the court and I think maybe we did that initially," said Pistons coach Gar Heard, filling in for Larry Brown.
Robert Horry's 3-pointer with 3½ minutes left pulled San Antonio within two, then Billups ended its comeback hopes.
Billups made a three-point play and a shot under the basket to give the Pistons a 104-97 lead with just under a minute left. Detroit scored 11 of the last 15 points.
"Every time we got close, down three or down four, they made a big basket," Parker said.
Parker said the Spurs have to prepare to play without Duncan.
"We've played without him before, and we just have to keep going," he said. "It's not like we have a choice. Our other big guys will have to do more and the rest of us will have to step up."
The Pistons had dropped 10 of their last 12 meetings with the Spurs, including an 80-77 setback on Dec. 3 at San Antonio.
Brown missed his fourth straight game and is out indefinitely after having surgery related to a November hip operation.
The game was tied at 31 in the first, surprising point totals for the NBA's top two defensive teams.
"Well, it killed both teams' defensive average," Heard said.
Detroit led 62-52 at halftime after 10 lead changes and nine ties, and 81-76 after three quarters.
Man... missing Duncan.. remember.. everything can be changed in Season or in playoffs..!!! |
We are blessed that we can watch sports, to do many things...
so be happy! |
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