In every playoff series this season, Tim Duncan had seen the same set of images.

A key opponent writhing on the floor in pain.

The worried looks on the faces of the injured star's teammates, all fearful he might not be able to play again in the series. And then the dramatic return of a player who looked much healthier than everyone thought.

It happened in the first round with Phoenix's Stephon Marbury. Then in the second with the Lakers' Devean George.

So even though the Dallas Mavericks kept saying that Dirk Nowitzki wouldn't be playing in Sunday night's playoff game after spraining his left knee in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals, Duncan and the rest of the Spurs remained skeptical until the opening tip.

"We planned," Duncan said, "for him to be out there."