Duncan’s double-double downs Rockets

Michael Finley added 15 points and Manu Ginobili had 14 points, seven boards and five assists for the Spurs, who two of three. Nazr Mohammed registered 11 points and eight rebounds as San Antonio has won 17 straight against the Rockets at home.

Yao Ming had 25 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks for the Rockets, who had a four-game winning streak come to a halt.Rafer Alston added 15 points for Houston, which scored just 11 third-quarter points.

Leading 42-38 at halftime, Houston went cold in the third. The Spurs scored the first seven points of the half to take the lead for good. Mohammed scored the final four points of the surge, capping it with a bucket nearly two minutes into the stanza for a 45-42 edge.

Later, the Spurs extended to a 55-48 lead on a Tony Parker basket with five minutes left. Then closed the quarter with five straight points to take a 64-53 advantage into the fourth.

Houston got within 77-75 on a Luther Head three-pointer with 3 1/2 minutes to go, but that was as close as the Rockets got.

Head ended with 13 points for the Rockets.

Parker had eight points for the Spurs, who led 25-22 after one quarter.

Game Notes

San Antonio needs one more win to reach 50 for the season...The Spurs improved to 27-4 at home...The Rockets fell to 16-16 on the road...Houston has lost four in a row overall to the Spurs...Houston went to the free throw line just 11 times in the game...The Spurs were at the charity stripe only 13 times.