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  Wednesday, Mar. 22 8:30pm ET
San Antonio 103, Los Angeles 78
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

SAN ANTONIO (AP) _ Tim Duncan and the Spurs found the perfect antidote for their injury-plagued woes _ the Los Angeles Clippers.

Duncan scored 30 points in his best game since returning from an abdominal strain, and Samaki Walker chipped in 18 points to lead a strong effort from the San Antonio bench as the Spurs dominated the Clippers 103-78 on Wednesday.

Walker, who led all players with 12 rebounds, helped the Spurs soothe the embarrassment of blowing a 22-point lead in a 97-96 loss to Dallas on Tuesday night.

"It's a matter of finding a niche on this team," Walker said. "For me, that's rebounding and being aggressive, and I think the whole bench did that."

The Spurs, who have two key players (guards Terry Porter and Steve Kerr) on the injured list and a handful of others battling day-to-day injuries, had lost three of their last five before Wednesday.

Spurs forward Sean Elliott scored six points in 19 minutes, marking his best production in his five games since returning from a kidney transplant.

Duncan, meanwhile, had an easy time handling Los Angeles defenders Keith Closs and Michael Olowokandi. Duncan, who missed four games from Feb. 25-March 4 with an abdominal injury, hit 12of-20 shots and also grabbed 11 rebounds.

"We needed this win really bad," Duncan said. "It's good for our confidence and a good one to start a roll with."

The Clippers took a 16-9 lead and held the advantage midway through the second quarter. But the Spurs, keyed by Walker, went on a 20-8 run to close the half and lead 53-42.

Sparked by Walker and Antonio Daniels, the Spurs reserves had one of their best games of the season. The San Antonio bench scored 55 points and 25 of the team's 48 rebounds.

"The bench came in and brought some energy," said Daniels, who had 14 points and six assists. "I think it's definitely a good sign when me and Samaki and some of the younger guys come in and do that."

The Clippers played without leading scorer Maurice Taylor, who missed the game with a sprained left ankle.

Derek Anderson led the Clippers with 17 points, while Olowokandi added 16 points and six rebounds.

"They are just a better basketball team than we are right now _ it's as simple as that," the Clippers' Lamar Odom said. "In order for us to beat them, we would have to play a nearly perfect game and they would have to have an off night."

Notes: Daniels had the highlight of the night when he stole the ball on the Clippers' end of the floor, dribbled the length of the court and dunked over Closs, who at 7-foot-3 is almost a foot taller than the 6-4 Daniels. ... Spurs guard Steve Kerr had surgery on his right knee on Wednesday. Kerr, who was placed on the injured list March 6, is expected to miss at least four weeks. ... The Spurs are 21-9 when playing back-to-back games. ... The Clippers haven't beaten the Spurs since Dec. 4, 1997, when they won 100-96 in overtime in Los Angeles.

 


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RECAPS
Minnesota 109
Boston 106

Philadelphia 106
Toronto 93

Charlotte 119
New Jersey 103

New York 78
Chicago 67

Orlando 103
Atlanta 90

San Antonio 103
LA Clippers 78

Phoenix 114
Sacramento 93

Detroit 104
Portland 95

LA Lakers 119
Golden State 96