Tag: In the News

Thursday: Spurs (23-10) at Nuggets (18-16)

Time: 8 p.m.
TV: FSNSW
Radio: WOAI-AM 1200, KCOR-AM 1350

STARTING LINEUPS

Point guard
Spurs: 9 Tony Parker (6-2, 11th yr)
Nuggets: 3 Ty Lawson (5-11, 3rd yr)
Lawson (ankle) did not play in Wednesday game at L.A. Clippers.

Shooting guard
Spurs: 4 Danny Green (6-6, 3rd yr)
Nuggets: 6 Arron Afflalo (6-5, 5th yr)
Green scored 16 points and played 30:37 of blowout loss in Portland.

Small forward
Spurs: 24 Richard Jefferson (6-7, 11th yr)
Nuggets: 13 Cory Brewer (6-9, 5th yr)
Jefferson had season-high-tying 19 points in last meeting with Denver.

Power forward
Spurs: 21 Tim Duncan (6-11, 15th yr)
Nuggets: 35 Kenneth Faried (6-8, 1st yr)
Faried had season-high 14 boards Monday vs. T’wolves, outrebounding Kevin Love.

Center
Spurs: 45 DeJuan Blair (6-7, 3rd yr)
Nuggets: 25 Timofey Mozgov (7-1, 2nd yr)
Mozgov (ankle) started and played almost 23 minutes Wednesday game at L.A. Clippers.

SPURS RESERVES
25 James Anderson, G, 6-6, 2nd yr
15 Matt Bonner, C/F, 6-10, 8th yr
23 Eric Dawson, F, 6-9, 1st yr
2 Kawhi Leonard, F, 6-7, 1st yr
14 Gary Neal, G, 6-4, 2nd yr
5 Cory Joseph, G, 6-3, 1st yr
22 Tiago Splitter, C, 6-11, 2nd yr

NUGGETS RESERVES
11 Chris Andersen, F, 6-10, 10th yr
5 Rudy Fernandez, G, 6-6, 4th yr
1 Jordan Hamilton, G/F 6-7 1st yr
7 Al Harrington, F, 6-11, 14th yr
41 Kosta Koufos, C, 7-0, 4th yr
24 Andre Miller, G, 6-2, 13th yr
31 Nene, F/C, 6-11, 10th yr
10 Julyan Stone, G, 6-6, 1st yr

COACHES
Spurs: Gregg Popovich
Nuggets: George Karl

INJURIES
Spurs: T.J. Ford (torn left hamstring) is out; Manu Ginobili (strained left oblique) is out; Splitter (strained right calf) is doubtful.
Nuggets: Danilo Gallinari (left ankle sprain) is out; Rudy Fernandez (lower back strain) is questionable; Ty Lawson (left ankle sprain) is questionable.

PROJECTED INACTIVE PLAYERS
Spurs: Ford, Ginobili, Splitter
Nuggets: Gallinari

NOTABLE
Nuggets are playing second game of back-to-back and had to travel back to Denver from Los Angeles, where they played the Clippers on Wednesday night. … Spurs won the first game with Denver this season, 121-117, at the ATT Center. … Tony Parker (All-Star Game) and Kawhi Leonard (Rising Stars Challenge) are to depart Denver after game for All-Star Weekend in Orlando.

– Mike Monroe

Editor’s note: The Nuggets’ record and status of Ty Lawson and Timofey Mozgov were updated following their 103-95 loss to the Clippers late Wednesday.

Rose’s late heroics leads Tuesday’s S&Ds

Reigning MVP Derrick Rose prepared for his game against the Spurs by rescuing Chicago to a tougher-than-expected victory over struggling New Orleans.

Rose hit the go-ahead jumper with 19.4 seconds left, blocked a potential tying shot and added to clinching free throws to lead the Bulls’ 99-95 victory over the Hornets.

It capped a 32-point performance for Rose, rescuing the struggling Bulls after they had allowed the Hornets to score 13 straight to take a late four-point lead.

“We definitely held it together. Other teams I guess would have folded,” Rose told the Associated Press. “We played toward the end I think the best defense we played throughout the whole game. We rebounded the ball, made great plays on the ball. … We gave ourselves a chance.”

Providing the key shot in game-winning situations befits an All-Star player like Rose.

Rose relishes taking the game-turning shots.

“I always think about my legacy here, taking those shots,” he said. “I want to be where I want to be at the end of my career.”

And on Wednesday night, Rose Studs Duds effort helped the Bulls pulls within percentage points of Miami for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

STUDS

Chicago G Derrick Rose: Hit the final four points of the game, sandwiched around a blocked shot in the Bulls’ victory over New Orleans. Rose finished with 32 points, nine assists, three steals, two blocked shots and was a team-best plus-16.

New Jersey C Brook Lopez: Erupted for 38 points, six rebounds and was plus-5 in the Nets’ upset victory at Dallas.

Minnesota F Derrick Williams: Came off the bench to score 27 points in 27 minutes, including 13 points in the fourth quarter, and was plus-xxx in the Timberwolves’ victory at the Los Angeles Clippers.

Milwaukee F Mike Dunleavy: Sliced through Washington for a team-high 28 points on only 17 shots off the bench in the Bucks’ triumph.

Sacramento C DeMarcus Cousins: Muscled for 22 points, 18 rebounds and was plus-3 in the Kings’ victory over Utah.

Chicago C Joakim Noah: Went for 15 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocked shots and was plus-11 in the Bulls’ victory over New Orleans.

DUDS

Toronto G Jerryd Bayless: Went for four points on 2-for-6 shooting, had five turnovers and was minus-2 in the Raptors’ loss at Houston.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Clanked through a 4-for-11 shooting night with six turnovers and was minus-11 in the Celtics’ victory over Cleveland.

Boston G Rajon Rondo: Was shut out on 0-for-6 shooting with five turnovers in the Celtics’ triumph over Cleveland.

Golden State G Monta Ellis: Went 7 of 19 from the field with five turnovers and was minus-23 in the Warriors’ loss at Indiana.

Dallas G Jason Terry: Hit only 4 of 14 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-1 in the Mavericks’ loss to New Jersey.

Los Angeles Clippers F Caron Butler: Went 1 for 10 from the field in the Clippers’ loss to Minnesota.

Ford joins Joseph, rehabs with Toros

For one day at the Spurs’ practice facility, the NBA D-League’s Austin Toros were loaded with NBA point guards schooled at the University of Texas.

T.J. Ford, the former All-American and a veteran of seven-plus NBA seasons, officially was assigned to the Toros for one day so he could go through a full practice session. He joined Spurs rookie and former Longhorns starter Cory Joseph, who was assigned to the Toros on Saturday to get playing time that would have been rare with Ford back on the Spurs’ active list.

Ford didn’t even have to pack an overnight bag to go to practice. The Toros came to San Antonio for the workout.

Ford has played in two games since returning to the lineup after missing 24 games with a torn muscle in his left hamstring and remains in need of conditioning and full-court game rhythm. He did not play in the first half of Sunday night’s 99-94 loss to the Nuggets and only 5 minutes, 46 seconds in the second half. He was productive enough in his short stay, making his only shot, grabbing three rebounds and getting one assist.

Gutting it out: Suffering a stomach ailment that his coach hinted was akin to food poisoning, team captain Tim Duncan gutted out 23:46 of play in the loss to the Nuggets.

Afterwards, Duncan said his energy level was “all right,” but coach Gregg Popovich made sure he didn’t remain on the court for long stretches. Duncan’s longest stint was in the fourth quarter, when he played the final 5:28.

Duncan milked 14 points and nine rebounds out of his 23 minutes but missed two free throws with 58.5 seconds left and the Spurs trailing 95-92.

Still the one: It had been two months since Manu Ginobili had played at the ATT Center, and it was hard to tell who was happier when he entered Sunday’s game with 5:45 left in the first quarter: Ginobili or Spurs fans who greeted his entry into the game with a rolling, standing ovation.

“It felt great,” Ginobili said. “I was excited enough for being back after two full months of not playing in this gym. It really motivated me and made me feel good. Of course, I’m always thankful to (the fans).

“First, you think about just coming back, starting playing, feeling the games, not just watching from the first row. I was happy enough to just be with the team, wearing the 20. It was a good moment.”

Ginobili expressed a grudging admiration for a play made by Denver’s Ty Lawson that was reminiscent of the all-out effort plays Ginobili often makes during crunch time. Lawson came from the perimeter to grab a rebound from Ginobili’s grasp after a missed Denver free throw with 4:18 left in a close game.

“I don’t know what kind of play it was,” he said, “but we didn’t see him. I was going to grab the rebound. He came from behind and snatched it. It was a good, hard play that he made.”

Blair update: Starting center DeJuan Blair played only 3:35 after banging knees with Nuggets center Timofey Mozgov early in the first quarter. The injury was termed a knee contusion, and Blair played briefly in the second half.

mikemonroe@express-news.net

Twitter: @monroe_SA