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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs got a scare when Tim
Duncan went down, clutching his left knee. Antonio Daniels and
Malik Rose showed there was no reason for concern.
|  | | Spurs center David Robinson takes aim over Jazz forward Karl Malone. |
Daniels scored 13 points and sparked a third-period rally that
came without Duncan or David Robinson as the San Antonio Spurs beat
the Utah Jazz 91-83 on Monday night.
Daniels hit a 3-pointer and a layup in a 9-4 run over the last
two minutes of the third quarter. The Spurs went ahead for good
with Duncan in the locker room tending to his injured knee and
Robinson on the bench in foul trouble.
"We did a great job of staying aggressive, constantly attacking
the bucket," Daniels said. "When Utah got into the penalty, we
continued to attack them and pin them in situations where they had
to foul or give us open shots."
Duncan was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee, the same
knee that required surgery last May to repair torn cartilage, but
returned with 9:31 to play. He'll have tests Tuesday to evaluate
the injury.
"I was worried, not because of the surgery, but because of the
pain level," Duncan said. "It was a little weak but I had the
opportunity to go back in and play a little bit. After that, it
felt pretty good."
Rose scored 11, one of six San Antonio players in double
figures, including seven on open jumpers in the fourth quarter.
Daniels made two free throws with 13.1 seconds left and then
blocked a 3-point try by John Stockton.
Duncan added 13 points and nine rebounds, only the third time in
20 games he hasn't reached a double-double. Terry Porter scored 10
for the Spurs, who had lost four of their previous five on the
road.
"Everyone played well," Daniels said. "This is not the way it
has been on the road. We haven't been playing as well as we should
have, but this is a great place to get on track."
Karl Malone led the Jazz with 19 points but went scoreless in
the fourth quarter. Stockton had 16 points but only four assists,
leaving him nine away from the 14,000 mark for his career.
Bryon Russell added 14 for Utah.
"We weren't trying to beat them, we were trying to beat them
individually," said Jazz coach Jerry Sloan. "When you try to beat
them individually, you don't have much of a chance."
It was a showdown between teams expected to battle for the
Midwest Division title. The Spurs won the first meeting at the
Alamodome last month.
Asked whether it mattered that the Jazz had lost twice to the
Spurs, Stockton said: "I'm sure it matters but we can't do
anything about it now except go forward."
The Jazz entered the game having won nine of their last 10 and
11 of 13 since losing in San Antonio.
But that success came against Golden State, Vancouver, New
Jersey (twice) and Detroit. A victory over the Spurs would have
added more credibility to Utah's surge.
With Philadelphia losing at home Monday night to Minnesota, the
Jazz missed a chance to claim the best record in the NBA and fell
to 16-5.
"We know where our bread is buttered, and that's going inside
and playing off Karl," Stockton said. "We didn't do a good job of
that. We didn't find our opportunities or create them
defensively."
The Jazz capitalized on the absence of David Robinson, who went
the bench with his fourth foul two minutes after the break. With
Duncan hurt late in the period, Utah was poised to take control.
But Daniels had other plans. His 3-pointer with two minutes left
in the third started San Antonio's surge. Derek Anderson added four
free throws and Daniels hit a layup to give the Spurs a 65-61 lead
entering the fourth.
"When Duncan and Robinson were out, we never took advantage of
it. That's pretty much where we lost it," said Utah center Olden
Polynice.
Game notes
Donyell Marshall played in his 400th game. ... Three
technicals were called in a nine-second span of the second quarter,
one on San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer for going on the
court, one on Sloan for protesting a call and another on the Spurs
for an illegal defense. ... Gregg Popovich is one victory from
tying Doug Moe's team coaching record. Moe was 177-135 from
1976-1980 while Popovich is 176-122 since 1996.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
San Antonio Clubhouse
Utah Clubhouse
RECAPS
Minnesota 96
Philadelphia 91
Phoenix 86
Chicago 80
San Antonio 91
Utah 83
Houston 82
Vancouver 75
LA Clippers 92
Orlando 80
 FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Karl Malone Official Site
Bryon Russell Official Site
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