"Tim Duncan tumbled to the floor at Oracle Arena on Monday night, and Antonio McDyess — a man who would know — recognized all the tell-tale signs of catastrophe.

Duncan was writhing in pain. He was clutching his knee. He wasn't getting up.

"I was scared for him," said McDyess, whose own medical chart bears the scars of career-altering knee injuries.

McDyess also was a little scared for himself.

"I thought, 'How many minutes am I going to have to play now?'" he said.

What at first looked to be something season-threatening for Duncan, and for the Spurs, turned out to be nothing more than a hyperflexed left knee.

So uneventful was his injury, in fact, Duncan was cleared to return in the second half. After the Spurs completed a 113-102 victory over Golden State, Duncan seemed almost sheepish about the consternation he had caused.

"I just fell wrong," said Duncan, 34, who barring setback is expected to play tonight at Utah. "It feels fine."

In the end, Duncan's severe-knee-injury-that-wasn't served to underscore how fortunate the Spurs have been en route to an NBA-leading 38-7 record.

In a league in which injuries are a way of life, the Spurs have been healthy enough to start the same lineup in all 45 contests. The only significant injuries they have faced have been to a rookie guard (James Anderson) and a reserve big man (Matt Bonner).

Last season, due to a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich used 25 different starting lineups. Players say the consistency of roles this season has been vital to the Spurs' success."