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Sigh of relief

Tests reveal good news for Spurs' Duncan

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Posted: Wednesday February 23, 2000 01:30 AM

Tim Duncan has yet to miss a game in his NBA career. AP

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tim Duncan's strained abdominal muscle is not torn, meaning the All-Star forward might be able to keep alive his streak of never missing an NBA game.

Duncan, listed as day to day, will travel with the San Antonio Spurs for a three-game road trip, and there is a chance he will play Thursday night in Charlotte.

While the Spurs' reserves practiced Tuesday and the rest of the team took the day off, Duncan took a magnetic resonance imaging test on his lower abdomen and began rehab, which includes workouts in a pool.

Duncan has played in 185 consecutive regular-season games during his three years in the league. Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers had an abdominal strain during the 1997-98 season and missed 21 games.

Local Look The good news continues to roll in for the Spurs: According to the San Antonio Express-News, David Robinson's right shoulder is feeling better. Robinson has a pinched nerve in the shoulder, and it was reaggravated in Friday's win over Houston. An MRI showed the center hadn't suffered extensive damage, and he played in Sunday's and Monday's games. "It comes and goes," Robinson said. "With a pinched nerve, you never know when it's going to act up."

Duncan left Monday night's game against Phoenix early in the second quarter of the Spurs' 98-89 loss. There did not appear to be any unusual contact that might have caused an injury.

"He just came over and said that I needed to sub for him," Spurs coach Greg Popovich said. "Then I knew right away that something was wrong. I didn't need to question him what was wrong. I just got him out of there."

If Duncan is sidelined, San Antonio is expected to give additional playing time to Malik Rose, with David Robinson picking up his offensive game. Robinson had 31 points and 18 rebounds, and Rose scored 17 points.

"If we play the way we did last night then we'll be in good shape," Popovich said. "It'd be great to shoot a little bit better. But the effort and the defense and the execution, I'm really proud of."

Guard Antonio Daniels, Duncan's closest friend on the team, sprained his left wrist during Monday night's game and also is listed as day to day. He will make the upcoming road trip and could play Thursday.

 

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