Tim Duncan to sit out vs. Warriors with knee soreness

SAN FRANCISCO -- A matchup featuring the NBA's two best teams lost a little luster Sunday when the San Antonio Spurs announced they'll hold out forward Tim Duncan from Monday's clash against the Golden State Warriors due to soreness in his right knee.

Duncan sat out of the team's win Thursday over the Phoenix Suns, but returned to the lineup for Friday's 108-95 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.

It's unlikely that Duncan's knee issues are serious, as Spurs coach Gregg Popovich typically manages the minutes of his veterans to prevent any potential injuries from worsening. In Duncan's absence, it's expected that bench players such as Boris Diaw and Boban Marjanovic will receive extended minutes.

David West will likely replace Duncan in the starting lineup. In his 19th NBA season, Duncan, 39, has played in 37 games this season, averaging 8.9 points. The Warriors (40-4) own the NBA's best record, followed by the Spurs (38-6).