Duncan Is Too Little, Too Late in Setback

San Antonio Spur Coach Gregg Popovich skipped the replays. He knew his team had lost.

Tim Duncan had an apparent winning dunk as time expired waved off after officials reviewed the play, giving the Bucks a 93-92 victory over the Spurs on Monday night at Milwaukee.

“It was late,” Popovich said of the final play, which began with an inbounds pass to Duncan with 2.8 seconds left. “It wasn’t good. It was pretty obvious. We left afterward because I knew it wasn’t good. The light came off when it was in his hand.”

Replays showed Duncan still had the ball in his hand when the light atop the backboard was lighted, signifying the game was over and giving the Bucks their 13th home win in their last 14 games.

“Thank God for instant replay,” Milwaukee Coach Terry Porter said. “It was hard for me to tell with the naked eye, but then I saw the replay. Thank the rules committee for that one.”

Tim Thomas led Milwaukee with 22 points. Michael Redd had 21 points for Milwaukee, including a driving basket over Duncan with 21 seconds left that proved to be the winner.

Tony Parker had a season-high 26 points for San Antonio, and Duncan had 22. The Spurs, however, were 15 of 27 from the free-throw line.

Cleveland 99, Orlando 98 -- Rookie LeBron James scored 16 points in his first game back from a sprained ankle, and Carlos Boozer had 23 points and 16 rebounds at Cleveland to help the Cavaliers overcome a stellar first half by Tracy McGrady.

McGrady tied an NBA record with eight three-pointers in the first half but played only five minutes after halftime because of a toe injury. He finished with 36 points on 11-for-19 shooting, including eight of 10 from three-point range.

The Cavaliers, who were 2-1 while James was sidelined, have won four of five and have 16 victories -- only one less than they had all last season.

McGrady’s shooting tied him with Tim Thomas (2001), Michael Redd (‘02), Ray Allen (‘02) -- all of the Milwaukee Bucks -- and Kobe Bryant (‘03) of the Lakers for the most three-pointers in one half.

Minnesota 97, Denver 95 -- Kevin Garnett had 31 points, and Latrell Sprewell tipped in a shot with 16 seconds left at Denver to lead the Timberwolves to their fifth victory in a row.

The Timberwolves outscored Denver, 7-1, in the final 1:36 to send the Nuggets to a season-worst three-game losing streak.

Andre Miller had a triple-double for Denver with 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

Miami 95, Houston 81 -- Stan Van Gundy pulled even in the first-year coaching rivalry with his younger brother at Miami, as Eddie Jones scored 27 points and the Heat shot 51% to beat Jeff Van Gundy’s Rockets.

Jeff won the only other meeting on Nov. 11.

Houston’s Yao Ming, who scored a career-high 37 points Sunday against Orlando, had 12 in 28 minutes. Steve Francis made two of nine shots and scored only nine points.

Portland 94, Washington 83 -- Damon Stoudamire made six-pointers, accounting for all 18 of his points, and had a season-high 13 assists to lead the Trail Blazers at Washington. Juan Dixon had a career-high 30 points for the Wizards.