SAN ANTONIO (AP) Tim Duncan was put on the injured list by the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, two days after the two-time NBA MVP injured his leg in a loss to Dallas.

The team said Duncan had an irritation of the left patellofemoral joint, where the thigh bone meets the knee.

Duncan is averaging a team-leading 23.2 points and 13 rebounds in 54 games.

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said his team would be ready for Saturday night's game against Denver.

``They played without him and Tony (Parker) both at the beginning of the season,'' Popovich said. ``If they play as well as they did then, I'll be thrilled.''

The Spurs are 1-3 without Duncan this season, and 7-11 in his seven-year career.

The team had already ruled Duncan out for the Nuggets game and said his condition would be re-evaluated next week.

Duncan limped to the bench midway through the third quarter of the Spurs' 115-91 loss to the Mavericks on Thursday night. San Antonio trailed by nine points at the time and went on to its most lopsided loss of the season. Duncan had 22 points and 17 rebounds in 25 minutes.

He had surgery on his left knee in May 2000 after suffering a torn lateral meniscus. Popovich said Duncan has been diligent about maintaining strength in that knee.

The Spurs did not immediately replace Duncan on the active roster. If the team activated another player, he would have to sit out at least five games.