SAN ANTONIO ? Gregg Popovich knows Tim Duncan as well as anyone. So when the perennial All-Star sulked after a poor performance in a playoff game, the San Antonio Spurs coach knew exactly how to pull him out of it.

He left him alone.

Working out the kinks by himself, Duncan went back to being the fundamentally sound force who has led the Spurs to two of the last six NBA titles – and ensured they’ll be playing for another starting next week.

Duncan had 31 points, 15 rebounds and three blocks in a 101-95 victory over Phoenix on Wednesday night, helping San Antonio wrap up the Western Conference finals in five games. His bounce-back performance left the Spurs smiling, the Suns shaking their heads and everyone in both locker rooms saying, “That’s Tim.”

“Tim Duncan was a possessed individual,” Popovich said. “You would never know it by looking at his face or talking to him. I haven’t talked to him for two days. I just leave him alone in these situations. He doesn’t need anybody to talk to him, especially a coach. He’s a very mature individual who understands what needs to be done.”

The Spurs returned Thursday to San Antonio for a weeklong siesta before the Finals. It’ll be days before they know whether they’ll be playing Ben Wallace and the defending champion Detroit Pistons or their former Western Conference foe Shaquille O’Neal and his new club, the Miami Heat.

Either way, the final round will begin June 9 in San Antonio.

“I’d love a little shorter time,” Duncan said, “but you can’t beat that.”

With two creaky ankles, Duncan tops the list of players who need the time to recuperate. Manu Ginobili has all kinds of sore spots, and Tony Parker added to his collection of bruises with several hard falls in Game 5.

Duncan blamed himself for the Spurs even having to go back to Phoenix. He considered the Game 4 loss his fault because he missed nine free throws and made just six baskets in a five-point loss. He scored 15 points that game compared to 30.5 in the four wins.