Duncan had 19 points to half time giving the Spurs the ascendancy in a game they needed to win to snap a two-game losing streak.

The Spurs re-discovered the form that saw them record a season-high 13-game winning streak earlier in the season and are now assured of a spot in the playoffs.

Ike Diogu was the Pacers' best with 14 points but his side failed to recover after point guard Jamaal Tinsley was ejected. Mike Dunleavy scored 11, while Jermaine O'Neal and Troy Murphy both added 10.

The Pacers snapped an 11-game losing streak against Atlanta last on Saturday but will still struggle to take part in the playoffs after losing consecutive games.

28 points from LeBron James wasn't enough to get the Cavs over the line against Dallas, Cleveland going down 98-90.

The Mavericks showed why they have the best record in the NBA at 56-11 and go to 3-0 half way through their six-game road trip.

Depsite his 31 points, James struggled to keep his team in the game shooting 12-for-28 from the field.

Cleveland excited the home crowd when it got within six during the last quarter, an 11-point run from James leading the charge. But it was as close as they would get after Dirk Nowitzki drained a three-pointer, then a two to ice the game.

In other matches, the Toronto Raptors eased past Orlando Magic 92-85, the Miami Heat snapped the Atlanta Hawks five-game home winning streak with a 91-83 victory, Charlotte Bobcats comfortably accounted for the Boston Celtics 92-84, Jason Hart knocked down a two-pointer on the buzzer to give the LA Clippers a one-point win over the Milwuakee Bucks 104-103, Minnesota Timbrewolves beat the Sacramento Kings 95-89 and Gilbert Arenas netted 42 points to give the Washington Wizards a narrow win over the Seattle SuperSonics 108-106.

NBA Results:
San Antonio Spurs 90 b Indiana Pacers 72
Dallas Mavericks 98 b Cleveland Cavaliers 90
Toronto Raptors 92 b Orlando Magic 85
Miami Heat 91 b Atlanta Hawks 83
Charlotte Bobcats 92 b Boston Celtics 84
LA Clippers 104 b Milwuakee Bucks 103
Minnesota Timbrewolves 95 b Sacramento Kings 89
Washington Wizards 108 b Seattle SuperSonics 106