Duncan, referee clash in Spurs’ loss

Losing a physical, emotional game to their top rival and being forced to settle for the No. 3 seeding in the Western Conference was bad enough for Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs.

Even worse: Duncan is convinced referee Joey Crawford is out to get him, with a brawl possibly needed to settle things.

Crawford gave Duncan two technical fouls only 1 minute 16 seconds apart late in the third quarter of San Antonio’s 91-86 loss to the Mavericks on Sunday at Dallas. The second came while he was laughing on the bench and meant an automatic ejection, only the second of his nine-year career.

“He looked at me and said, ‘Do you want to fight? Do you want to fight?’ ” Duncan said. “If he wants to fight, we can fight. I don’t have any problem with him, but we can do it if he wants to. I have no reason why in the middle of a game he would yell at me, ‘Do you want to fight?’ ”

The Spurs missed Duncan, failing to score a basket over the final 6:32 while giving up a 9-0 run to end the game. The loss ended their hopes of catching Phoenix for the No. 2 seeding and home-court advantage if they meet in the second round.

“He came into the game with a personal vendetta against me,” said Duncan, who had 16 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two blocked shots in 27 minutes. “It had to be because I didn’t do anything the entire game. I said three words to him and the three words were, ‘I got fouled’ on a shot. ... That’s all I said to him the entire game.”

Crawford disagreed, saying that “he was complaining the whole game.”

Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris scored 21 points each for Dallas.

Orlando 88, Boston 86 -- Hedo Turkoglu blocked Delonte West’s driving layup at the buzzer to help the host Magic clinch its first playoff berth in four years. Turkoglu finished with 20 points.

New Jersey 111, Indiana 107 -- The Pacers were beaten by the Nets at Indianapolis and then eliminated from the playoff race with Orlando’s victory. Vince Carter scored 35 points for New Jersey.

Toronto 107, New York 105 -- Chris Bosh had 23 points at Toronto to help the Raptors earn home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Chicago 101, Washington 68 -- Ben Gordon scored 30 points at Washington to help the visiting Bulls move one victory or a Cleveland loss away from clinching the No. 2 seeding in the East.

Philadelphia 102, Detroit 91 -- Willie Green scored 26 points to lead the visiting 76ers.