In losing by only six with Tim Duncan in street clothes, the Spurs may have gained a mental victory over the Suns in Phoenix. AP

Call it a little Pop Psychology. Or a slap to the face of ticket-buying fans.

Either way, the decision by Spurs coach Gregg (Pop) Popovich to sit stars Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili with questionable injuries in Wednesday night's much-anticipated clash with the Suns is sure to raise eyebrows around the NBA.

For those who don't get NBA TV, the story Wednesday night in America West Arena wasn't Amare Stoudemire's 44 points. It was Popovich's decision right before the game to rest his two All-Stars. Duncan sat out with a sprained right ankle, even though he had played 30 minutes Tuesday night (racking up 19 points, eight boards and four blocks) against the Nets. Ginobili sat out with hip, shoulder and groin ailments even though he had not missed a game recently.

Without Duncan and Ginobili, one of the NBA's biggest games of the season was rendered virtually meaningless. Phoenix held on to win, 107-101, but no doubt left feeling empty. Meanwhile the Spurs walked away feeling pretty good, since Tony Parker and a cast of reserves managed to keep the game close until the end.

And that might have been just what Popovich wanted. With his team already having defeated the Suns in both previous meetings this season -- including a huge OT victory in Phoenix back on Jan. 21, in which the Spurs rallied from 17 down in the fourth quarter -- the veteran coach apparently felt he had nothing to gain. Indeed, if the short-handed Spurs had been able to pull off the upset it could have dealt a crippling emotional blow to the Suns.

In some ways it was a brilliant move by Popovich. He knew he was leading his team into a proverbial hornet's nest. By resting his stars (who needed it anyway), he simply took away any potential psychological edge for Phoenix. Apparently Phil Jackson isn't the only coach who can play mind games (although I'd like to have seen him try to convince Michael Jordan not to lace up his sneakers for such a big game).

In fairness to the Spurs, Duncan and Ginobili both are hurting. Popovich said he held out Duncan, who had to leave Sunday's win over the Jazz after he twisted his ankle, because Wednesday's game was the second of a back-to-back. Ginobili, Popovich said, has been nicked up for weeks and tweaked a groin in Tuesday's game against the Nets. "It's not great timing, obviously, because of who we're playing, but that's got to be secondary to the big picture," Popovich told the Arizona Republic. "We don't play again until Saturday, so it's a good opportunity to give them some rest."

But would Duncan and Ginobili have played if the Spurs needed the victory? Would the NBA have intervened if the game had been on national TV? A few years ago a gimpy Jordan, racked with knee tendinitis, suited up for a preseason game in Detroit reportedly after the NBA office called the Wizards and politely asked (ahem) that he play for the good of the game.

Apparently some Phoenix fans felt cheated Wednesday night. Suns owner Robert Sarver, seated courtside, could be seen flapping his arms like a chicken and screaming at the Spurs bench during the game. "Varsity! Varsity! Varsity!" he and his friends reportedly chanted. Less amused no doubt were any fans who might have purchased tickets (as high as $150 for a single seat, according to the Republic) hoping to see Duncan and Ginobili.