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Duncan leads Spurs past Bobcats

Dec 7, 2006 - 2:47 AM CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Tim Duncan definitely had revenge on his mind.

Duncan scored 11 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter and Manu Ginobili added 13 as the San Antonio Spurs posted a 96-76 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

On November 15, the Spurs had a rare slip-up at home as they fell to the Bobcats in overtime, 95-92. In the rematch, Duncan made sure San Antonio got even.

"They beat us at our place earlier and just beat Detroit the other night (Sunday), so we came in here focused and with a lot of respect for these guys," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

With the Spurs in front, 77-66, early in the final period, Duncan netted his team's next 11 points, highlighted by a hook for a three-point play and running jumper for an 88-70 lead with 5:28 to go. The superstar forward made 9-of-17 shots overall.

"I was just biding my time," Duncan said. "I was able to get some separation. It was just the shots I was able to get at that point and luckily enough one of them went down and then I got a pump fake to work, too, and it just went from there."

San Antonio cruised thereafter en route to ending a two-game road skid.

"San Antonio came in to prove a point," Charlotte coach Bernie Bickerstaff said. "They are a very good basketball team - their execution, their recognition of mismatches and the isolations. We have to find other ways to contribute to our basketball team when things aren't going well for us."

Sean May scored 18 points and Gerald Wallace added 15 for Charlotte, which shot 41 percent (29-of-71).

"We were fighting, but they're a good ballclub," May said. I think they still had their mind on what we did to them in San Antonio, and they just played better than us tonight. I don't know of any one thing that they did that just killed us all night, they just did it collectively on the whole."

Bobcats rookie Adam Morrison, who was harassed by Bruce Bowen, finished with just two points on 1-of-10 shooting. Morrison had 27 points in the first meeting.

"I thought Bruce was fantastic tonight," Popovich said. "He did a wonderful job on Adam Morrison and did it without fouling. It was one of his best games defensively all year."

"These are the nights we talk about with young players that you have to find a way to get over the mountain," Bickerstaff said. "As we told Adam, there will be plenty of nights like this. When you have those nights - and everybody has one - you have to find a way to contribute to your team."

On Monday, the Spurs routed Golden State, 129-89, avenging another unexpected early season loss.