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Parker checked back in and soon had the lead growing again, ducking under Darrell Arthur to hit a floater and then knocking down a 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 83-70 with 8:14 to play. But then Parker finally went cold, missing five straight shots down the stretch as the Grizzlies rallied back. He had 14 assists in the second and third quarters and went past his career-high for the regular season of 17 during overtime. "He was unbelievable," Duncan said. "I know he's exhausted. We asked a lot of him. He was controlling the ball every time down the floor and he was making every right play there was. "He was finding people, and people knocked down shots for him." ESPN.com

Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan 

Ben Golliver: "I think Tony [Allen] just tried to sell it more than anything." -- Tim Duncan on Manu Ginobili's flagrant foul Twitter @blazersedge

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan 

Jeff McDonald: Duncan on Z-Bo: "We knew coming in what he wanted to do. So far, what we game-planned worked pretty well.". Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Zach Randolph, Tim Duncan 

It might have been the culmination of too many games combined with too many long flights. Or Duncan simply began to play poorly. Either way, when he threw a pass out of bounds with less than five minutes left, Popovich did what he has never done. He pulled his guy at the end of a playoff game. "I just made that choice," Popovich said. Duncan understood. Afterward, someone asked him what he thought about Popovich giving him a break. "I don't think he was giving me a break," Duncan said, and he laughed. "I think I played three or four pretty bad minutes in a row," he said. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan 

Eric Koreen: NBA 1st-team all defence: LeBron, Ibaka, Chandler + Noah (tie), Allen, Paul. 2nd team: Duncan, George, M. Gasol, Bradley, Conley. Twitter @ekoreen

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Paul George, Avery Bradley, Tyson Chandler, Tony Allen, Mike Conley, Joakim Noah, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka 

Bogut contributed to the Spurs having a bad shooting night (35.5 percent) of their own. He played 28 minutes and nearly all of it was matched one-on-one against future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. "I know I'm not going to hold him scoreless," Bogut said. "I try to battle him and not let him get comfortable." Duncan finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, but shot 7 for 22 and the Spurs were outscored by 23 points during the time he was on the floor. The Warriors were plus-17 with Bogut on the court. San Jose Mercury-News

Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan, Andrew Bogut 

“I have to make jump shots,” Parker said. “They’re going to leave me open. I’m going to get 20 shots, Timmy (Duncan) is going to get 20 shots. That’s what they’re giving us, a little like the Lakers." San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan 

“Pop told me if I have to shoot 25 times, I have to shoot 25 times,” Parker said. “Same things for Timmy.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan 

Jeff McDonald: Duncan, in his 16th season, on Steph Curry: "Probably the best shooter I've ever seen." Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Stephen Curry, Tim Duncan 

Indeed, Tim Duncan was on the court for a grand total of six seconds as the Spurs fought back in Monday’s Game 1 from a 16-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation before stunning Golden State in double overtime. Not because he didn’t want to play. But because he simply had nothing left after the intestinal bug that forced him to skip practice last Saturday reared its head as the game wore on. “Rough night last night, getting over this sickness,” Duncan said. “It kind of caught up to me later in the game. But probably the best thing for the team was me was going out." San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan 

Less than 12 hours later, Duncan said he’d already improved following a light workout on Tuesday. “Much better today,” he said. “Another day and a half, I hope to have it out of my system.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan 

Mike Monroe: Tim Duncan's flu-like symptoms have passed, so to speak; he's fine for Game 1 Twitter @Monroe_SA

San Antonio Spurs, Injuries, Tim Duncan 

Jeff Zillgitt: MVP in order: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, James Harden, Russell Westbrook Twitter @JeffZillgitt

LeBron James, Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony, Tony Parker, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Tim Duncan 

Spurs forward Tim Duncan arrived at the team’s practice facility Saturday morning and was promptly sent home. Ailing with what the team is calling a stomach bug, Duncan missed the Spurs’ final full workout in preparation for the start of a Western Conference semifinal series against Golden State on Monday. Coach Gregg Popovich doesn’t believe the illness will affect his All-Star big man’s availability for Game 1. “He’ll be fine,” Popovich said. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan 

Jeff McDonald: Tim Duncan did not practice today, out with stomach bug. Should be fine for Game 1. Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

San Antonio Spurs, Injuries, Tim Duncan 

Fabricio Oberto, the starting center on the Spurs’ 2007 title team, was at practice Wednesday doing some work for a TV network that is sending features back to Argentina about the Spurs and Manu Ginobili. The sixth man is the undisputed star of the “golden generation” Argentina national team that won the gold medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. One of the most popular teammates in recent Spurs history, Oberto visited with old friends, former teammates and media members still around from his playing days. Oberto walked off the court with Tim Duncan, his frontcourt mate from 2005-09. “Absolutely great to see him,” Duncan said. “One of the all-time greats.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Tim Duncan, Fabricio Oberto 

Jeff McDonald: Tim Duncan's take on contentious GSW-DEN series: “It’s playoff basketball. Everybody shakes hands the first game. The second game you kind of give a five. By the third game, you don't talk to anybody.” Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan 

Metta World Peace: Marc Gasol and Tim Duncan are the best big men in the game. Glad they are not on the same team Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, San Antonio Spurs, Tim Duncan, Marc Gasol, Metta World Peace 

Against Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan, and Tony Parker. And in this universe, that can only mean one thing: Final score, 120-89, the worst home playoff loss in franchise history. San Antonio up 3-0 in the series. “I thought our guys played as hard as they could play,” head coach Mike D’Antoni said after. “but they ran out of gas toward the end.” SheridanHoops

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Mike D'Antoni, Gregg Popovich, Tim Duncan 

Danny Green: Happy bday to the greatest to ever do it at his position...Timmy D Twitter @DGreen_14

San Antonio Spurs, Danny Green, Tim Duncan