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Timing of three days off pleasing to Parker

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Bruce Bowen’s jersey retirement luncheon

Former Spur Bruce Bowen speaks to the media before his jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 jersey hangs at the ATT Center during his jersey retirement luncheon on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Former Spur Bruce Bowen (left) and current Spur Tim Duncan share a moment at Bowen’s jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Spur Tony Parker (center) shares a laugh with teammates Tiago Splitter (left) and Tim Duncan (right) at Bruce Bowen’s jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich (from left) and players Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili tell stories about former teammate Bruce Bowen at his jersey retirement luncheon at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Retired Spurs forward Bruce Bowen is introduced by fellow Spurs great Sean Elliott at a luncheon honoring Bowen at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

Former Spurs players Danny Ferry (right) and Sean Marks chat during the jersey retirement luncheon for Bruce Bowen at the ATT Center on Monday, March 19, 2012. Bowen’s jersey will be retired as part of Wednesday’s game at the arena against the Timberwolves. (Bob Owen / San Antonio Express-News)

As deftly as Gregg Popovich has managed the minutes of his players in the compressed, 66-game post-lockout schedule — only Tony Parker and Tim Duncan average as many as 28 minutes per game — the Spurs coach is mindful of the grind that awaits his team in the final six weeks.

Wednesday’s game against the Timberwolves at the ATT Center will begin a stretch of six games in eight nights, including the final three on the road.

Awaiting in mid-April: Eight games in 11 days.

Thus, the three-day break in the schedule that arrived after Saturday’s loss in Dallas was welcomed by everyone, especially Parker, the only Spurs player averaging more than 30 minutes (34.5).

“Definitely, it’s going to help recharge the battery,” said Parker, who admitted fatigue played a role Saturday when he was held to 13 points, his lowest output in March. “I think it was catching up with me because it was a hard game against Oklahoma City (on Friday).

“These three days are definitely going to help me be ready for the big stretch coming up for us.

“Back-to-back-to-back, six games in eight days. That’s a lot of games coming up, so these three days are perfect.”

Aware that Parker didn’t seem as sharp Saturday as he has been most of the season, Popovich promised to guard against overworking him.

“We’ll watch that,” he said. “He’s strong, he’s in great shape, he’s more focused than ever. It’s his best year, and he’s had some good ones.

“We want him to keep that level of energy and focus, and we certainly don’t want to start overplaying him to win a game here and there, that’s for sure.”

Retirement lunch: After an early practice Monday morning, the entire Spurs roster bussed to the ATT Center for a luncheon honoring Bruce Bowen, whose No. 12 will be retired in conjunction with Wednesday’s game.

Bowen, who won three championships with the Spurs before retiring in the summer of 2009, called the impending honor the most special one ever bestowed on him.

“Someone asked me, ‘What if you’re inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame?’” Bowen, 40, said before the luncheon. “It wouldn’t surpass this. This is something that comes from the organization and people you were around for quite some time.”

Considered the premier wing defender of his time, Bowen was named to eight consecutive All-Defensive teams, including five straight first-team mentions between 2002-03 and 2007-08.

Those who played with Bowen consider his inclusion in the ATT Center rafters to be a no-brainer. He will join George Gervin, David Robinson, James Silas, Johnny Moore, Avery Johnson and Sean Elliott as players similarly honored.

“He’s not the type of player who normally gets his jersey retired,” said Manu Ginobili, who played alongside Bowen for seven seasons. “But what he’s done in this franchise was big. It’s very well-deserved.”

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Stuckey, Pistons surprise Lakers in OT

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Kobe Bryant calmly dribbled to his right and made a 19-foot fadeaway at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.

It would have been easy for the Detroit Pistons to fold — but the mood at The Palace is finally beginning to feel different.

“Kobe, he’s a phenomenal player. He’s going to hit those,” Detroit guard Rodney Stuckey said. “We didn’t hang our heads. We pretty much just dug down deep in overtime.”

Stuckey scored six of his 34 points in overtime, and the Pistons recovered from Bryant’s tying shot to beat the Los Angeles Lakers 88-85 on Tuesday night.

Bryant and Metta World Peace had chances to tie it late in overtime but couldn’t connect from beyond the arc.

“Everyone played a little tired,” Bryant said.

In front of only their third home sellout of the season — with Gladys Knight performing at halftime — the Pistons won despite scoring only nine points in the third quarter. Detroit started 4-20 under new coach Lawrence Frank but has gone 9-6 since.

“When you just have a short amount of time with this lockout and stuff like that — new team, new coach — everything’s brand new,” Stuckey said. “It’s going to take time. It’s all a process.”

Down 74-71 in the fourth, Stuckey shook free of Bryant with a nifty crossover dribble, stepping back to make a shot from near the free throw line. He put the Pistons ahead with a driving layup.

World Peace stole the ball near midcourt and went the other way for a layup to put the Lakers ahead 76-75, but Stuckey’s 3-pointer with 9.8 seconds left gave the Pistons a two-point lead.

Bryant’s shot over Tayshaun Prince forced the extra session, and neither team led by more than three in overtime.

“Nothing went well, and we paid for it with a loss,” Lakers coach Mike Brown said. “I was very disappointed in our team defense. All they did was drive the ball every time, and they got layup after layup after layup.”

Andrew Bynum had 30 points and 14 rebounds for the Lakers.

Bryant shot only 8 of 26, finishing with 22 points. He started the game with a black mask protecting his injured nose but switched back to a clear one while struggling through the first half.

“The mask we tried tonight didn’t work,” he said.

“It just slid all over the place.”

Another monster game from Love heads Monday’s S&Ds

Kevin Love made a bold statement after his monster game Monday night.

“This is my time right now,” Love told the Associated Press after his flip shot with 43 seconds left ended up providing the margin in Minnesota’s 95-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

The shot punctuated Love’s huge game, which included 39 points, 17 rebounds and five 3-pointers.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Love is the first player in NBA history to record consecutive games of at least 35 points and 10 rebounds, making at least five 3-pointers in each game. He is averaging 40.5 points in those two games.

“You have to have confidence that you are going to get what you want,” Minnesota coach Rick Adelman told the AP. “But the great thing about him is he gets what he wants and he’s such a good free throw shooter that it all adds up.”

It helped him lead Monday’s Studs and Duds of the NBA’s top statistical performers last night.

STUDS

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Notched 39 points, 17 rebounds, two assists and was plus-8 in the Timberwolves’ victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Orlando C Dwight Howard: Produced 36 points, 13 rebounds, two blocks and was plus-6 in the Magic’s victory at Toronto.

Milwaukee G Brandon Jennings: Notched 33 points, seven assists, four rebounds, two steals and was plus-5 in the Bucks’ victory over Philadelphia.

Utah F Al Jefferson: Went for 25 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists, three blocks and was tied for team honors with plus-16 in the Jazz’s victory at Cleveland.

Denver G Ty Lawson: Had his second big game in two nights with 16 points, seven rebounds, 13 assists and two steals in the Nuggets’ overtime triumph over Sacramento.

DUDS

Los Angeles Clippers F Caron Butler: Missed all six field goal attempts with a turnover and was minus-1 in the Clippers’ loss at Minnesota.

Minnesota G J.J. Barea: Missed all seven field goal attempts with two turnovers and was minus-3 in the Timberwolves’ victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Scored 22 points, but went 6 of 18 from the field with seven turnovers in the Thunder’s victory over Dallas.

New Orleans C Chris Kaman: Went 4 of 13 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-10 in the Hornets’ loss at Portland.

Washington G Jordan Crawford: Clanked through a 2-for-13 shooting night with three turnovers and was minus-3 in the Wizards’ loss to Golden State.