The Spurs had no answer to this, as David Robinson and Duncan couldn't expand their defensive coverage because Shaq was still inside.
Duncan's 40 points didn't help the team win, nor did it help the team lose by any less, as the Spurs still lost by 11 points.
In the following Game 3 and Game 4, the Spurs were utterly slaughtered. In Game 3, the Lakers boldly completely let go of David Robinson's mid-range, double-teaming Duncan, forcing him to play perhaps the ugliest playoff game of his career—3 for 14, scoring only 9 points.
Even though David Robinson scored 24 points with precise mid-range shooting, it still couldn't prevent the Spurs from a 39-point blowout loss. Now, the Spurs were a team belonging to Duncan. If he couldn't perform, any excellent performance from others was in vain.
By Game 4, the Spurs had lost their desire to win, and the Lakers effortlessly won by 35 points, completing a sweep.
