Spurs F Duncan misses third straight game

Feb 28, 2009 - 6:52 AM SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan missed his third straight game Friday night with right quadriceps tendinitis. But for the first time, his absence made an impact, as his team fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 97-86.

A perennial All-Star, Duncan leads the Spurs in scoring (20.7) and rebounding (10.7). He was a game-time decision and was evaluated before the game, but head coach Gregg Popovich decided to let him sit for at least another night.

"He thinks he's ready. The trainers think he's ready, but if I'm going to err, I'm going to err on the side of caution," Popovich said. "Tim doesn't stand down much and when he said he couldn't go on Tuesday, that says something to me.

"That was only four days ago. Resting him makes me more comfortable."

Kurt Thomas started in his place for the third straight game, collecting six points and six rebounds in a losing cause.