Tim Duncan Could Miss Two Weeks With Ankle Injury

Tim Duncan Injury Knocks Spurs' All-Star Out Up To 2 Weeks

Tim Duncan is expected to miss two weeks of action for the San Antonio Spurs due to an injury suffered in the first half of the Spurs' win over the Golden State Warriors on Monday, reports the San Antonio Express-News. The prognosis is a severe sprain, as X-rays on Duncan's ankle came back negative.

The Spurs have three weeks left in the regular season before commencing the team's run to a fifth NBA championship of the Duncan era. San Antonio won championships in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007, and have the league's best record at 57-13. San Antonio needs five combined win or Los Angeles Lakers losses to clinch the No. 1 seed.

The Spurs have been remarkably healthy this season. San Antonio's five opening starters -- Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili, Richard Jefferson and DeJuan Blair -- have missed a combined five games. Antonio McDyess recently supplanted Blair in the starting lineup; McDyess has sat just six times this season.

Parker was supposed to miss four weeks of action with a calf injury, but returned after just two games on the shelf, and the Spurs didn't miss a beat. It seems unlikely Duncan will bounce back quite as quickly, or that with the No. 1 seed seemingly sewn up the Spurs will be so eager to rush the nearly 35-year-old back.

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Tim Duncan Leaves Game Against Golden State With Ankle Injury

San Antonio Spurs All-Star forward Tim Duncan left Monday night's game against the Golden State Warriors with an ankle injury. Duncan landed awkwardly on his foot, X-rays were negative and he did not return to the game. 

Duncan immediately grabbed for his foot after hitting a short jumper early in the first quarter. He appeared to be in pain as he laid on the court clutching his foot with both hands before being helped to the back. 

The Spurs have been fortunate this season to avoid injuries with Duncan who has started all but one game this season. Ironically that game was this past Saturday when Gregg Popovich elected to bring Duncan off the bench in the second game of a back to back for the Spurs. 

San Antonio currently holds the best record in the NBA at 56-13. Duncan is averaging 13.4 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest this season which are both career lows. At age 34, the Spurs have made an effort to reduce Duncan's minutes to keep him fresh for the playoffs. There is no word as to how much time Duncan might miss with this ankle injury.