SAN ANTONIO (AP) – Tim Duncan marked his return to San Antonio’s starting lineup with 26 points and 15 rebounds, and the Spurs beat the Boston Celtics for the 12th straight time – 103-87 Saturday night.

Manu Ginobili added 26 points in 24 minutes for San Antonio, which narrowed Minnesota’s lead in the Midwest Division to 1 games.

After missing nine games with a knee injury, Duncan came off the bench for the first time in his NBA career in the Spurs’ victory over the Timberwolves on Thursday.

Back in his customary position, he shot 10-for-13 and made all six of his free throws while leading a defense that limited Boston to 34 second-half points.

Tony Parker scored 15 points and Malik Rose added 13 for the Spurs.

The Celtics, who trailed by four at the break, tied the score at 57 on a short fadeaway jumper by Pierce with 9:48 remaining in the third quarter. Parker then made an 18-footer and Duncan had a breakaway dunk off his own steal.

Ginobili scored San Antonio’s final 11 points in the quarter as part of a 13-2 run that gave the Spurs an 82-67 lead.

Boston got no closer than nine points after that, while San Antonio’s advantage grew as large as 20.

The Celtics’ last victory over the Spurs came in January 1997, and their last win in San Antonio – where they have lost 12 straight – was in February 1990.

Pierce led Boston with 18 points, but he made only six of his 24 shots.

Walter McCarty had 15 points and Mark Blount added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Pierce missed his first three shots, but then scored nine points in a 90-second stretch to pull the Celtics to 20-18 late in the first quarter. Ginobili countered with nine points in the final 3 minutes of the period.

San Antonio went on an 18-4 run, with 10 points from Duncan, to build its largest lead of the half – 50-35.

Boston followed with a 13-0 run, capped by a 3-pointer by Jumaine Jones, to close to 50-48.

Ginobili made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the half to put the Spurs up 57-53.