Quentin Richardson | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Salad days gone, Duncan finds a way to stay young

ORLANDO — Tim Duncan ordered light Tuesday night. He had a Caesar salad.

And that made you sick?

“Bad eggs, bad dressing,” Duncan sighed. “Something bad.”

So Duncan was up most of the night in his Orlando hotel room. “In and out,” he said, when it was mostly out, and he missed the team meeting Wednesday morning.

Gregg Popovich didn’t want him to play against the Magic, and Duncan’s response was to the point.

“He told me to go fish,” Popovich said.

Duncan had worked too hard during the lockout to miss nights such as these. Popovich wasn’t going to keep Duncan from Dwight Howard, nor was a Caesar salad.

And this is how the Spurs won their first road game of the season.

They won it for other reasons, and the schedule was one. The Magic were not only on the third night of three games in a row, but Howard had also put in 39 minutes the night before.

Duncan, thanks to LeBron James, played less than 27 in Miami.

Then there was Tony Parker, coming alive for a burst; a Gary Neal 3-pointer that fell, in part, because one eventually had to; and the Magic’s J.J. Redick being about a second too late in overtime.

But none of it happens if Duncan isn’t cradling the game as lovingly as he does the basketball just before the tip. He spent the summer dropping both his body fat and a few thousand jump shots, and the result was clear Wednesday.

“He was fresh,” Popovich said, when he had expected something else from a sick man. “How he pivoted, and how he started and stopped, and how he moved across the lane, all of that was special. It’s a tribute to what he has done to get ready for this season.”

Duncan isn’t on his farewell tour. Most in the organization think he will try to play two to three more seasons after this one. Parker restated that again Wednesday.

But Duncan is also at a place where he takes nothing for granted. Add Howard to the equation, and a chance for Duncan to test himself yet again, and the night was mandatory.

Asked if he got amped up for Howard, Duncan nodded. “If you don’t,” Duncan said, “you will get destroyed.”

The numbers told of that. While Parker said Duncan “was unbelievable on Dwight,” imagine what Howard would have done without Duncan being unbelievable. Howard finished with 24 points and 25 rebounds.

Still, Howard didn’t score in the fourth quarter. And from the opening play to Redick’s too-late heave, Duncan pitted his knowledge and professionalism against Howard’s freakish physical ability.

They are opposites, both in age and emotions. While Duncan handled his own free agency years ago by privately assessing his options (coincidentally, Orlando was one of his options), Howard has turned his into a show.

Their differences were on the court Wednesday, too. Duncan remained typically stoic, and Howard went from playfully smiling to frustrated. Late in the third quarter, bothered by Duncan and the refs, Howard plowed into Duncan for an offensive foul.

They would trade hips and elbows the rest of the way. And shortly after Popovich ran a play in which Danny Green set up Duncan in the final seconds of regulation, Orlando had 0.3 seconds left on the clock.

Thinking about a lob?

“Yes,” Duncan with a tone that suggested he remembered everything.

In February of 2007 in Orlando, Howard went up over Duncan to take an inbounds pass at the buzzer to dunk and beat the Spurs.

“I told Dwight tonight,” Duncan said with a smile, “that’s not happening again.”

So they went to overtime, contrasts to the end. Duncan tossed in a jumper for the lead, with Popovich leaning with body language on the sideline. Howard followed with a roaring dunk after an offensive rebound.

Popovich called time to draw up Neal’s 3. As Duncan disgustingly went to the bench, a fan yelled what he’s been hearing for a while. “You’re OLD!”

But not too old, not after last summer. Not this night.

bharvey@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

1 of 13 | Share

Spurs 85, Magic 83 (OT): Jan. 18, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan loses his grip on the ball as he is fouled by Orlando Magic’s Von Wafer (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy directs his layers during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (12) goes after a rebound in front of San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s J.J. Redick walks off the court after the Magic’s 85-83 overtime loss to the San Antonio Spurs in an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. Redick made a 3-point shot after the final buzzer. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s Ryan Anderson, right, makes a shot past San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter, of Brazil, during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83.(AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, makes a shot over Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard (12) during the second half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won in overtime, 85-83. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

After sinking a 3-point shot in the closing seconds of overtime, San Antonio Spurs’ Gary Neal (14) gets a high-five from teammate Tony Parker (9), of France, in an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. San Antonio won 85-83. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) pump-fakes and is fouled by Orlando Magic’s Quentin Richardson during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, center, fights for a rebound with San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan, left, and DeJuan Blair (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) grabs a pass while being guarded by San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich yells to his players during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, passes the ball around Orlando Magic’s Ryan Anderson (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, spins away from Orlando Magic’s Glen Davis (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (AP)

Spurs find way to clear roadblock

By Jeff McDonald

ORLANDO — Dwight Howard snagged the rebound and swung the ball to J.J. Redick, only one of the purest shooters on the planet, who prepared to line up the game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Watching all this unfold from under the Amway Arena basket Wednesday, with visions of another Spurs road loss dancing in his head, Tim Duncan recalls having one distinct thought.

“Holy crap,” Duncan said.

Duncan held his breath, and he did not exhale until after the Spurs had survived an 85-83 overtime victory over Orlando, coming as close as possible to losing their sixth straight road game to start the season before finally winning their first.

Redick’s shot swished — of course it did — but, in an about-face of luck from the Spurs’ previous sojourns, the ball left his hand after time had expired. The dagger did not count.

“It shows our margin for error,” Richard Jefferson said. “We were point-five seconds away from having our hearts broken.”

Given the Spurs’ early struggles on the road this season — they started 0-5 for the first time since 1988-89 — they’ll take the win any way it comes.

Tony Parker scored 16 of his 25 points after the third quarter and had nine assists, while Duncan scrapped out 17 points and 10 rebounds against Howard. After starting 0 for 5, Gary Neal made the game’s biggest shot, a crucial 3-pointer to give the Spurs an 84-81 lead with 28.2 seconds left in OT.

The triumph was the Spurs’ first on the road since winning in Atlanta on April 5 of last season. It was their first in Orlando since March 25, 2008, after losing in their last three trips here by a combined 60 points.

It came against a Magic team (10-4) that had won five in a row but was playing its third game in as many nights. No matter.

“We needed one on the road,” Duncan said. “This was a good one to get.”

With the long-awaited away win, the Spurs (10-5) exited the not-so-exclusive club of teams still winless on the road. Only Milwaukee and Washington can still go 0-33.

The Spurs won despite shooting just 2 of 17 from 3-point range and despite 24 points and 25 rebounds from Howard, who had a pair of follow dunks in OT.

That was the best part of the win to coach Gregg Popovich. A night after the Spurs crumbled in the second half of a 120-98 loss at Miami, causing Popovich to bemoan the way his “soft” team had “folded,” they outlasted adversity Wednesday.

“More than anything, they just played through whatever was going to happen on the court,” Popovich said. “They just kept on plugging.”

One poster boy was Parker, who was 4 of 12 with nine points through the first three quarters. In the fourth, he connected on 7 of 8 to help get the game to OT.

“I was having great shots (early), they just weren’t going in,” said Parker, who is averaging 21.7 points and 7.7 assists in his last six games. “I knew that couldn’t last the whole game, so I just kept shooting.”

Neal knows the feeling. He had missed all four of his 3-point tries — and 16 of his previous 18 — when Popovich drew up a look for him with the score tied in the final 39 seconds.

“Being a shooter, my mentality is, ‘It’s not the last one, it’s the next one,’?” Neal said.

Neal’s lone basket of the game put the Spurs ahead for good, but they couldn’t chalk up road win No. 1 until after a frantic final possession by the Magic.

After Ryan Anderson missed from the corner, Howard rebounded and found Redick, who pump faked Danny Green, took one dribble and buried the jumper.

Luckily for the Spurs, it was just enough, but too late.

“It was one of those things — you just hold your breath and hope for the best,” Duncan said. “That horn went off, and we got lucky.”

After the misfortune that had been their baggage on the road so far, the Spurs aren’t about to complain about a little luck now.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

1 of 13 | Share

Spurs 85, Magic 83 (OT): Jan. 18, 2012

Thunder, Magic set lockout mini-camps to boost team development

Orlando and Oklahoma City are the first two NBA teams to opt for unified team workouts during the lockout as a way of building team growth for the future.

It’s a good sign that both playoff-caliber teams are joining for voluntary workouts. And considering the reputation of both franchises, it’s not really that much of a surprise.

The Thunder are doing their camp this week. Hoops World.com reports that key players like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Eric Maynor, Cole Aldrich, Nick Collison and top draft pick Reggie Johnson .

Garnett has been playing in seemingly every major playground game involving NBA players this summer. But the unity of the Thunder team with him is noteworthy.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the Magic are getting together beginning next week. Jameer Nelson, Quentin Richardson and Dwight Howard.

“I just want guys to get together a few days a week just to get back in the flow of things as much as we can and get some weightlifting in and some conditioning and get some shots up,” Nelson told the Sentinel.

Nelson added that he wants the workouts to be as close to possible to what the Magic would be experiencing at training camp.

“This is the time we all come back into town and just get together and get around each other and hang out a little bit, whether it’s dinner or going to watch a couple of football games, and work out during the day,” Nelson said.

“It doesn’t have to be an everyday thing because we have a veteran team. Guys still do their own thing working on their bodies individually, and to my understanding, most guys are [working on their own] right now.”

It wouldn’t be surprising to see some of the Spurs plan some similar work once the FIBA tournaments conclude and all of the players are through with their international commitments are concluded.