Antonio McDyess, who has also taken long turns guarding Duncan, said he had noticed Duncan showing signs of exasperation.

But before Game 3, O'Neal told Jackson that he wanted to guard Duncan.

"This was a setback," said Larry Johnson, who tried in vain to guard Duncan, and left with 10 points and a technical foul.

Scott has given the task of guarding Duncan, the league's most valuable player, to Kenyon Martin, and has no plans to double-team him.

Martin will not be the only player guarding Duncan, Nets Coach Byron Scott said.

The Knicks have to guard Robinson and Duncan aggressively, but with care.

Rasheed Wallace played his best in the clutch despite battling foul trouble, and he may take turns with Wallace guarding Duncan, the Spurs' 7-foot center.

And no one could guard Duncan, who made 12 of 14 shots and scored a career-high 33 points in a narrow Wake Forest victory.

When Martin got into foul trouble, a less agile Rodney Rogers spent time guarding Duncan.

Stoudemire did not have to guard Duncan.