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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The Portland Trail Blazers were energized,
and the San Antonio Spurs were ill-equipped.
Rasheed Wallace scored 27 points and had eight rebounds to lead
the Trail Blazers to a 93-77 victory Thursday night over the Spurs,
who struggled without an injured Tim Duncan.
|  | | David Robinson, who led the Spurs with 16 points, gives Portland's Brian Grant a gentle tap. |
The Trail Blazers shot 56.5 percent from the field for the game,
a season high for a Spurs opponent. Portland amassed a 55-39 lead
by halftime and added to that edge in the third period. A 3-pointer
by Steve Smith gave the Blazers a 21-point advantage, their biggest
lead, midway through the third quarter.
Portland led 77-59 at the start of the fourth and held a
double-digit lead the rest of the way.
"We got good ball movement and made the extra pass. Defensively
we did a good job of contesting their shots," Portland coach Mike
Dunleavy said. "Obviously they were a little shorthanded without
Tim."
Duncan watched from the sidelines, out with a cartilage tear in
his left knee that an MRI exam detected Thursday. He hurt himself
attempting a dunk against Sacramento on Tuesday, and is listed as
doubtful for Saturday's key Midwest Division showdown against Utah.
Duncan averaged 19 points and seven rebounds in the Spurs'
previous three games against the Blazers this season. In the last
meeting, a Spurs victory March 28, he had 36 points and 15
rebounds.
His injury is a big setback for San Antonio as the defending NBA
champion embarks on the final stretch of the regular season with
hopes of improving its playoff position to gain home-court
advantage in the first round. San Antonio is fifth in the Western
Conference, 1½ games behind the fourth-place Phoenix Suns.
"We would like to have home-court advantage, but after
tonight's game, that is going to be tough," said David Robinson,
who led San Antonio with 16 points and nine rebounds.
Samaki Walker started in place of Duncan, scoring 13 points and
grabbing 10 rebounds before leaving with a dislocated finger in the
fourth quarter.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said his team lacked concentration,
which led to missed free throws and turnovers, and he refused to
use Duncan's injury as an excuse for the loss.
"We caved in to their pressure, and that led to our demise,"
he said.
Brian Grant and Arvydas Sabonis scored 13 points apiece for
Portland, while Damon Stoudamire had 11.
Scottie Pippen, who scored only four points, said facing the
Spurs was much easier without Duncan.
"Without Duncan out there we were really able to come after
David Robinson," Pippen said. "Being able to get inside is a lot
easier with only one 7-footer out there and not two."
Portland led 25-20 at the end of first quarter and its halftime
edge was bolstered by Wallace's 17 points and 67.6 percent
shooting.
Game notes
Wallace picked up a technical foul with 26 seconds left to
play in the second quarter. That boosted his single-season-record
total to 37 technicals. ... Sean Elliott suffered slight sprains in
both ankles in the first half, but returned to play in the third
quarter. ... The Spurs shot 43 percent from the field. ... Portland
won three of the four meetings between the two teams this season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
San Antonio Clubhouse
Knee injury sidelines Spurs' Duncan
RECAPS
Washington 109
Chicago 103
Houston 111
Dallas 102
Portland 93
San Antonio 77
Sacramento 130
Golden State 107
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