Tim Duncan Fails to Record a Field Goal for 1st Time in NBA Career

All season long, Tim Duncan has left mouths agape as he continues to defy a typical aging curve, blasting franchise and NBA records along the way. On Sunday, he set a personal record—just not one he's exactly thrilled about.   

For the first time in his 18-year NBA career, Duncan was held without a field goal during the Spurs' 116-105 win over the Chicago Bulls. Duncan missed all eight of his shot attempts, finishing with three points and eight rebounds in 28 minutes.

Tony Parker scored 32 points and Kawhi Leonard added 20 to help pick up the slack, as San Antonio wilted the typically fierce Chicago defense despite Duncan's disappointing outing. Duncan had been held to a single field goal 12 previous times, most recently on Nov. 13, 2013, in a win over the Wizards. That instance was one of three in the first month of Duncan's 2013-14 campaign, per Basketball-Reference.

Taken as a whole, it's disappointing that Duncan's streak is over, but it also opens an opportunity to marvel at his consistency. Going more than 1,300 games without failing to record a field goal speaks to Duncan's health, skill level and his underrated ability to flat-out score.

His 2014-15 campaign has been almost a perfect representation of just that. He's managed to stay in the lineup amid absences from Parker, Leonard and Manu Ginobili while keeping his per-minute production at rates historically unheard of for a player who turns 39 in April. He'll in all likelihood finish with his 18th straight season of at least 17 points and 10 rebounds per 36 minutes.    

For one day, though, Duncan learned that Father Time eventually catches up to everyone. Even if it's only for 28 minutes in a relatively meaningless March regular-season game.

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