Duncan, Bowen named to All-Defensive Team

May 12, 2008 - 6:36 PM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- San Antonio Spurs teammates Tim Duncan and Bruce Bowen on Monday were named to the NBA All-Defensive first team.

While he garnered the fewest points (33), Duncan still was able to secure his 11th straight first-team selection.

Bowen, who received just three more points than Duncan, made the team for an eighth time in his career.

Led by Duncan and Bowen, the Spurs were the third-best defensive team in the league this season, allowing 90.6 points per game.

Rounding out the first team were forward Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics, guard Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers and center Marcus Camby of the Denver Nuggets.

Named the league's Defensive Player of the Year last month, Garnett made the first team for a ninth time in his career. His 52 points tied Bryant for the most.

Boston held opponents to 90.3 points per game, the league's second-best mark. It was a marked improvement from last season, when Boston surrendered 99.2 points per contest.

It was the eighth selection for Bryant.

The runner-up to Garnett in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, Camby earned his second straight first-team selection. The 2007 Defensive Player of the Year averaged 3.61 blocks to lead the league and finished second in rebounding at 13.1 per contest.

The second team consisted of Shane Battier of the Houston Rockets, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets, Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, Tayshaun Prince of the Detroit Pistons and Raja Bell of the Phoenix Suns. Bell was a first-team selection last season.

Voting was done by the league's 30 head coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players. Two points were awarded for a first-team vote and one for a second-team vote.