Spurs forward Tim Duncan knows that there is no magic formula when attempting a comeback from their 3-1 deficit against the Mavericks.

He knows it all starts with a do-or-die win in Game 5.

"We have to, or we're going to go home," Duncan said. "There's no two ways about it. There's no magic answer. We're going to go home and try to win that one."

The Spurs have failed to get past the first round of the playoffs just once since Duncan joined the team in 1997.