Duncan comes off bench for third time in career
SAN ANTONIO — Tim Duncan came off the bench for just the third time in his 1,383-game career Saturday night against the visiting Golden State Warriors, with Boris Diaw getting the start at center for the Spurs.
Golden State is without its starting center, Andrew Bogut, who strained his left big toe Friday in a 130-112 victory in Dallas. The Warriors, who have lost 32 straight regular-season games in San Antonio, were already without key reserves Andre Iguodala (sprained left ankle) and Festus Ezeli (left knee surgery).
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said everyone is available for San Antonio.
Golden State has not won in San Antonio since Feb. 14, 1997, but the Warriors walloped the Spurs 120-90 on Jan. 25 at the Oracle Arena in the first showdown between the league’s two most dominant teams.
The Warriors (62-6) hold a four-game lead over the Spurs (58-10) for the league’s top seed with a month remaining in the regular season. The two teams will meet again April 7 at Golden State and April 10 in San Antonio.
San Antonio has won 43 straight home games dating to the past season, a streak that is one shy of matching the 1995-96 Bulls for the second-longest streak in league history. Golden State is currently on a 50-game home win streak dating to January 2015.
The New York Knicks hold the record for road futility, having lost 43 straight to the Los Angeles Lakers from 1975 to 1992.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
