SAN ANTONIO -- Tim Duncan, absent for Game 4 of the San Antonio-Seattle playoff series, will play in Friday night's deciding contest, but David Robinson will have to watch from the sidelines.

	Robinson

	Duncan

Duncan missed Wednesday's game after his father died earlier in the week. The 7-foot forward returned to San Antonio after a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands for a memorial service Thursday.

There had been some doubt about Duncan's availability for Game 5, but he said after Friday morning's shootaround that he never considered missing the game.

"It's a tough time," Duncan said of his emotional burden. "But just to get back here to be with (teammates), it feels good."

Without Duncan, San Antonio scored only 31 points in the first half and went on to lose to the SuperSonics, 91-79, forcing the tiebreaker in the best-of-five series.

Spurs forward Danny Ferry said he wasn't sure what the team should expect from Duncan, who has averaged 27 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks in his three playoff outings.

"I'm hoping and I think he'll come out and play his normal, steady game," said Ferry, who is expected to play despite a sprained shooting wrist.

Robinson played only a few minutes of Game 1 before his strained lower back forced him to the bench, and he hasn't played since. He has been undergoing intensive treatment for the injury, including several injections.

After a light workout Friday, the Spurs and Robinson determined he would be unable to play Game 5.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.