By Jeff McDonald
jmcdonald@express-news.net
Time went by, and the minutes kept coming, then came overtime. By the end of a much-needed 101-95 Spurs victory Wednesday, Tim Duncan was sweating into his 73rd minute in two nights, logging the kind of playing time that, at age 35, had become a faded memory of younger era.
Asked afterward if he could give another 35 minutes today, if the schedule required it, Duncan answered with a mix of wry wit and realism.
“I think I could,” he said. “But my body might think differently.”
Duncan was never one for gaudy numbers or flashy statistics, and Father Time has robbed him of what little athleticism Mother Nature gave him. Even his signature banker is no longer automatic.
Yet what Duncan still has, hidden behind those blank-stare eyes yet on display minute-by-minute at the ATT Center in a game the Spurs absolutely had to have, is a burning desire to win.
Against Houston, Duncan filled his box score with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and three steals. In the process, he passed Larry Bird for 27th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, laughing that the go-ahead points came at the foul line, a place never all that kind to him.
It was the little things Duncan did that separated him against the Rockets and eventually shoved the Spurs to victory.
It was wrestling with Sam Dalembert for a key rebound. Hitting Tony Parker on a perfectly timed backdoor cut. That one perfect piece of footwork to keep Kyle Lowry from a sure layup in overtime.
“Tim’s a competitor,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said of the two-time MVP. “Just because he’s a little older doesn’t mean he’s not going to compete.”
When Manu Ginobili went out with a broken hand, Popovich scoffed at the idea it would be up to his immediate replacement — either James Anderson or Gary Neal or Kawhi Leonard — to pick up the slack.
It was Duncan and Parker, the other two spokes of the Spurs’ Big Three, who would need to raise their games. Wednesday, they delivered, steadying the Spurs (7-4) through some unsure moments to their seventh home victory in as many dates.
For the second game in a row, Parker threw in a season high, this time going for 28 points with eight assists. The 29-year-old point guard played more than 45 minutes, a night after giving almost 36 in a 106-103 loss in Milwaukee.
“He’s unbelievable, man,” Duncan said, with a tinge of envy. “He’s going to be worn out tomorrow.”
Leonard, the rookie from San Diego State, earned his first career start at shooting guard. He replaced Neal, who was moved to the bench upon news that backup point guard T.J. Ford will miss the next four to six weeks with a torn left hamstring.
Leonard finished with 11 points, his third consecutive double-figure game, and eight rebounds and survived a trial by fire chasing Houston scoring machine Kevin Martin.
Martin finished 18 points, but had to work for them. Lowry had 22 points for Houston (3-7). Luis Scola scored 20, but only six after the first quarter.
With both teams having played the night before — Houston won in Charlotte — overtime seemed almost cruel. It seemed especially unkind to Duncan.
Clearly down to his last drop of fuel, Duncan missed his first four tries in OT and was 1 of 4 from the foul line.
Richard Jefferson hit the game’s biggest shot, a corner 3-pointer with 1:09 left in OT that gave the Spurs a 94-92 lead. Moments later, Duncan notched his only basket of the extra frame with 35.8 seconds left, when he spun Dalembert into a pretzel to eke out a shot on the block.
There are nights Duncan can feel the fingers of Father Time. He will probably feel them this morning.
He says he has not heard the whispers, from elsewhere in the NBA, that perhaps his game is not what it used to be.
“I don’t really care,” Duncan said. “I’m just trying to play the game, go out and see what I’ve got.”
Wednesday night, he had just enough.
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Spurs 101, Rockets 95 OT – 20120111
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs (21) goes up to score the the field game that won the game for the Spurs as Samuel Dalembert of the Houston Rockets defends during the overtime period of NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets attempts to pass off as Tony Parker, left, and Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs reach for the ball during fourth-quarter NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
DeJuan Blair of the San Antonio Spurs is determined during second-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Tony Parker of the Spurs passes off as Jordan Hill, left, and Chase Bodiner of the Rockets defend during first-half NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs hangs from the rim as is his custom before the team’s game against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs shoots as Patrick Patterson of the Houston Rockets defends during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs is fouled by Goran Dragic, right, of the Houston Rockets as he successfully shoots during NBA first-half action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Splitter was able to make the ensuing free throw. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs dunks against the Houston Rockets during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs, in white, is fouled by Luis Scola of the Houston Rockets as he makes a shot during NBA action at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. Splitter was able to convert on the ensuing free throw. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
Matt Bonner of the San Antonio Spurs makes a reverse layup during first-half NBA action against the Houston Rockets at the ATT Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012. BILLY CALZADA / gcalzada@express-news.netHouston Rockets at San Antonio Spurs (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)