"Tim Duncan started the fourth quarter of Friday's game against the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center on the bench, watching a Spurs' lineup that included four reserves whittle away at the lead the Kings had held since the first minute of the game.

He stayed there until the final 5.5 seconds of what became an 88-86 loss, the Spurs' first at home this season.

Coach Gregg Popovich said it had nothing to do with managing the minutes of his oldest player in a compressed schedule.

"No," Popovich said, "the group that was out there was blitzing and doing a great job. They got us back in the game and got us a six-point lead at one point."

When Duncan finally returned, after Popovich called a timeout with 5.5 seconds left, he was an integral part of the play Popovich hoped would send the game to overtime. The in-bounds pass went from Tony Parker to Duncan, who took two dribbles and handed off to Danny Green, curling from the left corner."