"Yao Ming didn't play once again. Tim Duncan barely did.

Five Spurs scored more, and no one had more turnovers. And about halfway through the third quarter, Duncan did what the elderly do. He went to sleep early.

On an inbounds play, Houston's miniature pivot man, Chuck Hayes, fooled Duncan at the rim. Gregg Popovich immediately called time, and, as Duncan passed him heading to the bench, Popovich had a few words for him.

Shane Battier watched all of this, and afterward the Rockets forward remained in awe. "He is one of the few pillars in this league," Battier said.

So wait a few weeks, when Popovich names Duncan as the starting center in the All-Star Game.

And no one within the league complains.

All of this is guesswork, as well as premature. As Popovich said when questioned early Saturday evening, "I really think, the last time I looked, we were playing Houston tonight.""