SAN ANTONIO—Bruce Bowen didn't start Tuesday night in San Antonio's game against the New York Knicks. It was the first time in 550 games that he played for the Spurs in which he was on the active roster and didn't start. He was replaced in the starting lineup at small forward by Ime Udoka.

Being the professional he is, Bowen didn't complain. He checked into the game with 2:22 left in the first quarter and contributed to the all-around defensive endeavor. That caused coach Gregg Popovich to proclaim the victory the best defensive team effort of the season.

"This is a time when you have to trust in the things that the coaches say," Bowen asserted after the Spurs found themselves off to their worst start since Tim Duncan arrived. "We know where we're trying to get. In the process, if people start second guessing, then it gets really disruptive.

"We're not a group that second guesses things. We understand that it's a process in the season and unfortunately, we're the cause of a lot of the things that are happening right now."

The defensive specialist, who had been the subject of criticism from Spurs fans in recent games, had a streak of 500 straight games played and started for San Antonio end on March 14 when he served a one-game suspension at Detroit. Bowen had been suspended for kicking Chris Paul.

Roger Mason started in place of Michael Finley, who also jumped into the game off the bench and contributed 14 points and six rebounds in a very energetic fashion and rookie George Hill got his first career start in place of the injured Tony Parker. Hill finished with 12 points, one assist, one steal, and five rebounds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.