Duncan scored 16 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Spurs held on for a 96-91 victory over the Washington Wizards.
Coming off a two-point loss at New Jersey, San Antonio seemed on the verge of squandering a 10-point lead in the final three minutes Tuesday.
But Duncan, who made just one of his first 12 shots, banked in a 15-footer with 12 seconds remaining to give the Spurs a 93-88 lead.
 Tim Duncan has scored 20 points or more in 18 consecutive games. Mitchell Layton /NBAE/Getty Images |
Washington did not go quietly as Chris Whitney sank a 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left. Antonio Daniels hit 1-of-2 from the line for the Spurs with 8.6 seconds left, keeping it a one-possession game.
But Whitney missed a 3-pointer with three seconds to play and Duncan clinched the win by converted two free throws with one second to go.
"Both teams really played hard, played aggressively, played unselfishly and executed pretty well," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "We were fortunate to end up on the right end of the score."
Charles Smith, replacing the injured Tony Parker, scored a career-high 21 points in his first start for the Spurs and held Michael Jordan to a quiet 20 points. Steve Smith scored 20 points for San Antonio.
"Michael's a tough cover, as everyone knows," Popovich said. "He didn't have one of his best nights shooting, but I thought Charles really worked hard and did a good job in his first start. I told him the good news is you get to start tonight, and the bad news is you get to guard Michael."
Jordan made just 5-of-21 shots and was held to just 11 points over the first three quarters before trying to rally Washington in the final period.
"I just tried to distract him and make him take the most difficult shots as possible," Charles Smith said. "That's all I could ask for. I thought it about all day after coach told me I was starting and guard Michael.
"But, hey, I used to watch him as a kid," Smith continued. "I just said, `Well, I'm going to be in awe for a minute, but once the ball tips up, I have to defend him and do my job.' And that's what I did."
The Wizards have lost three straight for the first time since Jordan challenged his new teammates following a 5-12 start. Washington responded with a nine-game winning streak but is just 4-5 since.
Jordan also struggled from the foul line, making just 10-of-16, and was his own worst critic.
"You've got to give our guys credit," Jordan said. "They played their hearts out. Me, I stunk it up. I missed six free throws, which if you look at the outcome of the game, six free throws makes the difference in the ballgame."
Early on, it did not appear the game would come down to the final seconds as the Spurs opened a 28-13 first-quarter lead. They held a 48-35 advantage at the half as Charles Smith scored 18 points.
But the Wizards began to make their move in the third quarter, closing to 70-61 on Whitney's 3-pointer with 51 seconds left in the period.
Washington got within 77-73 on Jordan's basket with 8:20 left, but Charles Smith's 3-pointer and Duncan's jumper gave the Spurs an 82-73 margin.
San Antonio seemed to be in control when Daniels hit a 3-pointer to make it 90-80 with 3:21 left, but Jordan hit 3-of-4 free throws to make it 90-83.
After Duncan converted 1-of-2 from the line, Jahidi White made a pair and tipped in Jordan's miss to pull the Wizards within 91-87 with 56 seconds left. Jordan had a chance to make it a two-point game, but converted only 1-of-2 from the line with 27 seconds to go.
"Mike got some points, but all in all, I thought Charles won the battle," Duncan said. "He got up into his face and stole the ball a couple times. He really harassed him and frustrated him."
All five starters scored in double figures for the Wizards' led by Davis' 22. Whitney also scored 20 points, while White and Popeye Jones added 15 and 10, respectively.