By Jeff McDonald
Tim Duncan hit a right-handed hook on Samuel Dalembert. A few minutes later, he opted for the left.
Later, he spun Jordan Hill into oblivion on the low block, cleaned up a misconnected alley-oop attempt and dunked home a pass from Gary Neal.
By the time Duncan’s third-quarter trip through time was finished Wednesday, giving the kind of stretch his younger teammates might have read about in their history books, the Spurs had climbed out of a 19-point hole against Houston, on their way to a 99-91 victory.
For Duncan, the most memorable moment of a memorable night happened before the third quarter even began.
“I was just happy to be on the floor, honestly,” Duncan said.
Duncan tallied 16 of his 25 points in a third quarter that began with the Spurs 13 points down, scoring on an array of ? post moves unpacked from moth balls.
There was a chance, given coach Gregg Popovich’s history, Duncan might not have been on the court for the comeback.
In a 105-85 loss at Houston on Dec. 29, with the Spurs (14-9) down 18 at the half and headed nowhere, Popovich chose to sit Duncan the entire second half.
By halftime Wednesday at the ATT Center, point guard Tony Parker was having flashbacks.
“I was thinking Pop was going to pull the plug again,” said Parker, who ended with 24 points. “I’m glad he stuck with us.”
This time, Popovich had a different feel than he had in December at the Toyota Center.
Wednesday, the Rockets (12-10) shot 50 percent in the first half. Kevin Martin scored 21 points in the first two quarters — he finished with 29 — via a shooting pace (7 of 10) he could not possibly sustain. The Spurs, meanwhile, were shooting 35.9 percent, despite some good looks.
“That’s something you have to assess, whether you think guys are playing poorly,” Popovich said, “or if they’re playing well but things aren’t going their way.”
The seeds for Wednesday’s comeback might have been sown Sunday in Dallas, when the Spurs rallied from 20 points down to force overtime before losing 101-100.
“That gave us confidence we could do it,” said forward Matt Bonner, whose 3-pointer with 1:04 left gave the Spurs a 96-91 lead.
This comeback, which earned the Spurs a 2-2 split of the season series with Houston, was different than in Dallas.
Against the Mavericks, the Spurs’ bench played all of the fourth quarter and overtime. Wednesday’s rally was spearheaded by the longest-tenured tandem of teammates in the NBA.
Parker and Duncan had all but one of the Spurs’ field goals in a third quarter they won 28-19.
Mostly, it was Duncan, at age 35 reminding the Rockets that, yes, he once was the league’s MVP.
“It was like he found the Fountain of Youth,” Neal said.
A sign of Duncan’s aggressiveness: He was 7 of 10 from the foul line, the first time he’d tried that many free throws since 2009-10.
When Duncan finished a failed alley-oop from Danny Green to James Anderson — players who were in grade school when Duncan debuted in 1997 — it brought the Spurs within 66-58.
With 7:01 to go, Green hit a corner 3-pointer to give the Spurs an 81-79 lead, their first since 1-0.
“We tried to hang in there,” Parker said. “We just kept fighting.”
The fighting might continue tonight. Popovich has vowed to sit Duncan at least once in four-games-in-five-nights scenarios, which would portend a DNP against New Orleans.
Even after logging 31 minutes Wednesday, Duncan doesn’t think he needs it.
Asked if he would lobby Popovich to play against the Hornets, Duncan appeared nonplussed.
“I didn’t know I needed to lobby,” Duncan said. “I assume I’m playing. I’m assuming I’ll be out there.”
If he has indeed found the Fountain of Youth, Duncan will take a long gulp this morning, and hope for the best tonight.
jmcdonald@express-news.net
– Photos by Billy Calzada
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Spurs 99, Rockets 91: Feb. 1, 2012
Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs shoots a layup against the Houston Rockets during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams, wearing glasses, smiles after Kyle Lowry of the Houston Rockets almost ran into him while chasing a ball out of bounds during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Williams was in town to see San Antonio Spurs player Danny Green, who used to play for him. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich questions a call by official Matt Boland during first-half NBA action against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tony Parker of the San Antonio spurs shoots as Samuel Dalembert of the Houston Rockets defends during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs shoots over Jordan Hill of the Houston Rockets during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets attempts to rebound as Tim Duncan of the Spurs defends during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan of the Spurs defends as Samuel Dalembert of the Rockets looks to shoot or pass off during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Houston Rockets head coach Kevin McHale screams during NBA action against the Spurs at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs hangs from the rim, as is his custom, before the Spurs are introduced for their game against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs battles to keep control of the ball against the Houston Rockets during first-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Kawhi Leonard of the San Antonio Spurs (2) battles Luis Scola (4) and Samuel Dalembert of the Houston Rockets during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan slam dunks during second-half action against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Gary Neal of the Spurs passes off an assist during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tim Duncan smiles from the bench as time winds down on the San Antonio Spurs 99-91 victory over the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Fans cheer as the Spurs’ Tim Duncan grabs a rebound in the final seconds of the Spurs’ 99-91 victory over the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
Tony Parker of the Spurs lays up the ball as Samuel Dalembert (21) of the Houston Rockets chases during second-half NBA action on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2012. Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-NewsHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (Billy Calzada / San Antonio Express-News)
