The Associated Press

Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs has won balloting for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award, The Associated Press learned Saturday.

Duncan becomes the first player since Michael Jordan in 1991 and '92 to win the award in consecutive seasons.

The San Antonio Express-News was the first news organization to learn of Duncan's selection, reporting it on its Web site early Saturday. A source with knowledge of the vote totals, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed Duncan had won the award.

An official announcement is to be made today.

Duncan did not speak to reporters Saturday, but his teammates had praise for him.

"He takes what you give him," said David Robinson. "If you're going to play him up on his jump shot, he'll drive. If you're going to play back, he'll shoot the jump shot. That's what makes him MVP."

Duncan led the Spurs to the league's best record, 60-22, averaging 23.3 points and career highs in rebounds (12.9), assists (3.9) and blocks (2.92).

Duncan is the seventh player to win the award in consecutive seasons, joining Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell.

TRAIL BLAZERS-MAVERICKS: Dallas is on the brink of becoming the first NBA team to blow a 3-0 lead in the playoffs.

Portland has a chance to complete the unprecedented turnaround in Game 7 today. That it's going the distance is impressive in itself; only twice in league history had a team won three straight games after losing the first three of a postseason series.

The other teams that went from 0-3 to 3-3 in the postseason (the 1994 Denver Nuggets and 1951 New York Knicks) both lost the series finale.

MAGIC-PISTONS: Two players wearing No. 1 will play key roles today in determining whether Detroit or Orlando reaches the second round of the NBA playoffs.

The focus will be on Tracy McGrady, who is averaging 33.5 points for Orlando in the playoffs, and Detroit's Chauncey Billups, whose 40-point performance was the driving force behind the Pistons' 103-88 win Friday in Game 6.

The Pistons will try to avoid becoming only the third top seed to drop a playoff series to a No. 8 seed.

At a glance

FIRST ROUND

(Best-of-7)

Wednesday

New Orleans 93, Philadelphia 91

Detroit 98, Orlando 67

Portland 103, Dallas 99

Sacramento 111, Utah 91 Kings win series 4-1

Thursday

Boston 110, Indiana 90 Celtics win series 4-2

N.Jersey 113, Milwaukee 101 Nets win series 4-2

San Antonio 87, Phoenix 85 Spurs win series 4-2

L.A. 101, Minnesota 85 Lakers win series 4-2

Friday

Detroit 103, Orlando 88 Series tied 3-3

Philadelphia 107,New Orleans 103 76ers win series 4-2

Portland 125, Dallas 103 Series tied 3-3

Today

Orlando at Detroit, 12:30 p.m.

Portland at Dallas, 3:30 p.m.

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS

(Best-of-7)

Monday

Boston at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 7

Boston at New Jersey, 7:00 p.m.

L.A. Lakers at San Antonio, 9:30 p.m.