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"I'm glad that it ended up the way that it did," Duncan said. "I'm glad that it is over and that I get to go home."
A rodeo at the SBC Arena sent the Spurs packing on a nine-game, 20-day road trip. The team made a couple of return trips to San Antonio but have not played at home since January 25.
After beginning with a loss at Minnesota on January 27, San Antonio rattled off seven straight wins. Friday's victory over the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers made the Spurs the first team in NBA history to win seven straight games on the same road trip.
For the finale, the Spurs came to Arco Arena, where the Kings boasted a 20-4 mark in the loudest facility in the league. Led by Duncan, the Spurs played through the noise and distractions to beat Sacramento at home for the second time this season.
"You don't plan on going 8-1 on the road, and at the beginning, I didn't think that was going to happen," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "You hope for it and we're thrilled about it. I just hope that we aren't too thrilled, 'cause we really haven't done anything yet. It's still a long season."
"I wanted to go 9-0," joked Duncan. "Nah, I'm very happy with how it ended. No disappointment at all."
Duncan made 13-of-23 shots and 8-of-10 free trows. He grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked three shots. But in the final two minutes, Rose and Ginobili made nearly all the key plays.
An 18-footer by Duncan pulled the Spurs within 97-96 with 2:16 left. At the 1:33 mark, Rose swept an offensive rebound and was fouled, making both free throws to give San Antonio the lead for good.
The teams traded empty possessions before Sacramento's Keon Clark fumbled away a post entry pass. Ginobili picked up the loose ball and fed Parker, who streaked in for a layup that missed. But Ginobili tipped it in for a 100-97 lead with 33 seconds to go.
After a dunk by Clark, Parker was fouled with 14 seconds left. He made the first and missed the second, but the rebound was tapped back beyond the arc, where Ginobili beat Mike Bibby to the loose ball.
"Manu does those types of things," Popovich said. "He's going to get a loose ball, he's going to make a steal, get an offensive rebound and put it back in. Guys like that don't get talked about much, that's just part of the way they compete and play, and we've got one of those type of players in Manu."
Ginobili was fouled and also made 1-of-2 with 9.1 seconds remaining, giving the Kings one more chance. But Bibby missed a potential tying 3-pointer, and Rose added two free throws.
"I had a good look," Bibby said. "I don't make any excuses. It just didn't go in."
Rose and Ginobili each scored 15 points. Ginobili made 6-of-8 shots, collected five offensive rebounds and handed out four assists. Rose had nine rebounds and made 9-of-9 free throws.
"We needed those guys to play well," Duncan said. "Those guys are really stepping up. We're getting offense from places that we normally don't."
"I'm feeling more confident about playing," said Ginobili, an Argentine who missed part of his rookie season due to injury. "It's a matter of time getting used to the guys, getting used to the league."
Parker scored 18 points for the Spurs, who erased a 12-point first-quarter deficit and blew a nine-point third-quarter lead. They again played without injured center David Robinson (hip).
"It's one of those things that I'll have to look back on and realize that I was part of that squad," Duncan said. "In this part of the season, it is great, we really needed this push. To end 8-1 on this road trip, it will give us a huge confidence boost down the stretch."
Vlade Divac had 22 points and nine rebounds for the Kings, who fell to 9-5 without All-Star forward Chris Webber (ankle), who may return this week. With five home losses, they already have matched last season's total.
The Kings wore retro Cincinnati Royals jerseys as part of a day-long tribute to Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson, the best player in franchise history. Robertson sat courtside with Kings owners Gavin and Joe Maloof and a new team award will be named after him.
However, in the first quarter it looked like the Spurs were stuck in a time warp, falling behind, 20-8. But nine points from Duncan helped them close to 31-26 after one period.
Kings coach Rick Adelman picked up two technical fouls arguing a non-call at the end of the first half and was ejected. A 3-pointer by Peja Stojakovic, who scored 15 points, capped a 10-2 run that gave Sacramento a 69-62 lead with 7:08 left in the third quarter, but San Antonio called timeout and responded with seven straight points.
"We were disappointed that coach got kicked out but we still came out fighting," Bibby said. "We had a lot of energy, we got up on them and then gave it right back to them."
On consecutive possessions in the final minute of the quarter, Ginobili drove and fed Duncan for layups. The second was followed by a free throw and gave the Spurs an 82-73 advantage.
But with Duncan on the bench in the final period, the Kings began a 9-0 surge. Two free throws by Divac and an off-balance jumper by Hedo Turkoglu gave Sacramento a 91-88 lead with 4:50 left, and neither team led by more than three points until Rose's clinching free throws.
Stephen Jackson scored 10 points for the Spurs, who shot 45 percent (37-of-82) and made 27-of-33 free throws.
Bibby scored 17 points, Christie added 16 and Clark 10 with 13 boards for the Kings, who shot 46 percent (39-of-84) but attempted just 16 foul shots, making them all.
"It was a mystery the way they called the game," Kings guard Bobby Jackson said. "It was ridiculous."