Tim Duncan scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 71-67 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday night in a game in which the teams combined for the lowest scoring first half in NBA history.

San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan (21) looks for a rebound against Houston Rockets' Kelvin Cato (13) and Yao Ming (11) of China during the second quarter Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, in Houston. [AP]

Duncan scored seven of his 10 fourth-quarter points in a 15-6 run as the Spurs erased a four-point deficit and took a 68-63 lead with 1:25 remaining. Devin Brown made two free throws with one second left to seal the victory, San Antonio's fifth straight.

Cuttino Mobley scored 19 points, and Steve Francis had 18 for Houston, which had its four-game winning streak halted.

The teams struggled with their shooting in the first half and combined for an NBA-record low 55 points, the fewest two-team total since the shot clock was introduced in the 1954-55 season.

The previous low first-half total was 57, accomplished by Detroit and Denver on Nov. 16, 2002, and New York and Miami on Jan. 30, 2003.

The league record for fewest points in a half is 51, in the second half of the Boston-Milwaukee game in Feb. 27, 1955.

San Antonio missed six straight and 8 of 12 shots at the start of the second quarter. Houston, which trailed 18-17 after one period, committed five turnovers in the span.

The Spurs shot 22.7 percent (5-for-22) in the second quarter, and Houston shot just 21.4 percent (3-for-14) as San Antonio carried a 30-25 lead into the break.

It was the lowest halftime point total in Spurs' history. Houston's eight second-quarter points and its 25 in the half were the second-lowest totals in team history.

San Antonio stretched its lead to 36-27 early in the third quarter before Frances and Maurice Taylor each scored four points in a 12-2 run as Houston took a 39-38 lead with 3:58 left in the third.

San Antonio led 46-45 after three quarters, but the Spurs missed their first eight shots in the fourth and Houston pulled ahead 49-46.

Notes:@ Tim Duncan finished with 10 rebounds and got his league-leading 19th double-double of the season. .... Entering the game, Houston was second in the NBA in points allowed at 84.8, and San Antonio was third at 85.4. ... The Rockets are 8-2 at the new Toyota Center ... Steve Francis got his 500th career steal with 3:29 left in the second quarter ... After beating Portland Wednesday night, San Antonio is 3-4 in the first games of back-to-backs and 5-2 in the second games.

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