Spurs hold Duncan, Ginobili out for last game

DALLAS (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs turned in a starting lineup for the season finale that included Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili. Then coach Gregg Popovich changed his mind.

Duncan and Ginobili didn't even suit up for a game against the Dallas Mavericks that had direct playoff implications -- a Dallas win would give the Mavs the No. 2 seed and the Spurs the No. 7 seed, meaning they would meet in the first round of the playoffs.

San Antonio could've moved up to the No. 6 seed with a win, but that also might have dropped Dallas to No. 3, which also would've set up a first-round meeting.

Popovich told the official scorers 18 minutes before pregame warmups that Duncan and Ginobili would play. He still had a chance to change his mind, and did with a few minutes left in warmups.

Duncan and Ginobili were not even sitting courtside when the game began, and the team said they would be listed as "did not play-coaches decision." DeJuan Blair and Roger Mason Jr. started in their place.