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Korver, Watson provide lift to lead Friday’s S&Ds

With reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Derrick Rose struggling through a miserable game, the Chicago Bulls needed a lift.

Kyle Korver and C.J. Watson were ready from the bench.

Korver provided 17 points including five 3-pointers and Watson added 16 points and nine assists in the Bulls’ 96-86 overtime victory over the Heat.

Watson’ who hit a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation said the bench was ready to contribute when needed.

“Our team all supports each other, whether we play good or bad, nobody is mad about playing time,” Watson told ESPN Chicago. “It’s why we’re so successful.”

The victory boosted the Bulls’ lead for the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference to four games over the second-place Heat.

“I’m not worried about my stats or anything,” Rose the Associated Press. “Can I make up excuses? Yeah. But you know me, I’m not going to use no excuse. My shots weren’t falling. Shots I normally hit, I wasn’t hitting. My teammates had my back. I’m happy I have them on my team.”

Their big efforts boosted the Bulls another step closer to the top seed in the playoffs, which earning both listing in Friday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Chicago G Kyle Korver: Came off the bench to score 17 points on 6-for-8 field goal shooting, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range in the Bulls’ overtime victory over Miami. Korver was plus-24.

Chicago G C.J. Watson: Provided 16 points off the bench, added nine assists, three steals and was a game-high plus-38 in the Bulls’ comeback victory over Miami.

San Antonio F Tim Duncan: Matched his season-high with 28 points (including 20 in the second half), grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked two shots in the Spurs’ victory over Memphis.

Detroit C Greg Monroe: Went for 25 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and was a game-high plus-31 in the Pistons’ triumph at Charlotte.

Los Angeles Clippers F Blake Griffin: Went for 19 points, 13 rebounds, five assists and was a game-high plus-23 in the Clippers’ victory at Minnesota.

Golden State G Klay Thompson: Produced 24 points, seven rebounds, eight assists, two steals and was plus-1 in the Warriors’ loss to Dallas.

DUDS

Chicago G Derrick Rose: Had a miserable return as he hit only 1 of 13 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-27 in the Bulls’ overtime victory over Miami.

Minnesota F Derrick Williams: Clanked through a 1-for-7 shooting effort with four turnovers and was a game-worst minus-17 in the Timberwolves’ loss to the Clippers.

Miami G Mike Miller: Went 1 for 9 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-9 in the Heat’s overtime loss to Chicago.

Los Angeles Clippers G Eric Bledsoe: Struggled through a 2-for-8 shooting night with three turnovers in the Clippers’ victory at Minnesota.

Minnesota G Jose Barea: Went 4 of 9 from the field with seven turnovers and was minus-15 in the Timberwolves’ loss to the Clippers.

Pop calls Spurs ‘soft’ after collapse against Heat

By Jeff McDonald

MIAMI — For the better part of a month, Gregg Popovich’s instincts have been to comfort.

As his young team, playing without its best player, continued to falter on the road, he spared the rod in favor of an encouraging pat on the backside.

Tuesday night at American?Airlines Arena, in the moments after the Miami Heat turned on an all-out second-half blitz to send the Spurs tumbling to a 120-98 defeat, Popovich made one thing evident to his players.

There would be no more Mr. Nice Pop.

“I thought in the second half they got real physical, and I thought we folded,” Popovich said. “The physicality killed us. We had nobody that stepped up. We let the physicality beat us in a lot of different ways — whether it was cuts, or passing or boards. It didn’t matter what it was. Their physicality put us in a ditch.

“They beat our ass in the second half. We should be embarrassed by that, playing that soft.”

With Dwyane Wade celebrating his 30th birthday in street clothes, sidelined with a sprained right ankle, the other two-thirds of Miami’s Big Three did the Heat’s heavy lifting.

LeBron James scored 17 of his 33 points in a stunning third quarter that saw Miami flip a 14-point halftime deficit into an 88-75 lead entering the fourth. Chris Bosh added 30 points to help smash a three-game losing streak.

Miami (9-4) outscored the Spurs 39-12 in the third quarter and 71-35 after intermission.

“LeBron started hitting some shots, and the intensity went up because of it,” said Tim Duncan, whose team played its ninth game without injured guard Manu Ginobili. “One thing turned into another. Their intensity in the second half changed the whole game.”

The Spurs are now 0-5 away from the ATT Center, matching their worst road start since 1983-84.

Four of those losses have come by double dig?its. Tuesday’s 22-point defeat was the most lopsided and most disheartening of the bunch, given how it began.

For one half, it appeared as if the Spurs (9-5) would end their road skid against the defending Eastern Conference champions.

They shared the ball. They defended. They were patient in finding easy shots. And behind 16 points from Tony Parker and 12 from DeJuan Blair, the Spurs took a 63-49 lead into the half.

Miami certainly played a role in the Spurs’ first-half success, appearing unfocused and disinterested.

“We stunk it up in the first half,” said Bosh, sounding a little like Popovich.

James, who was 1 for 5 in the first quarter while being guarded by rookie Kawhi Leonard, agreed.

“The way we started off the game is not the way we play basketball,” James said.

For the Heat, it all seemed as simple as flipping a switch.

In the third quarter, Miami put on a clinic, hitting 15 of 20 shots, including 6 of 8 from 3-point range. Mike Miller, playing in his first game of the season after battling a thumb injury, tied a career high with six 3-pointers on six tries.

He finished with 18 points, all in the second half.

James, meanwhile, dropped in 4 of 6 from long range, staring down the Spurs’ bench after the last of them. He also posted 10 assists.

“There’s not much you can do,” said Parker, who had 18 points, second to Danny Green (20) for the Spurs. “He was on fire in the third quarter. He’s coming on fast breaks, and he’s shooting 3s. There’s no defense against that.”

Sparked by James’ scoring binge, Miami ended the night shooting 58.2 percent, including 16 of 26 from beyond the arc.

“Every once in a while, somebody’s going to get in a zone where they can make those shots and change a game,” Duncan said.

As the Spurs boarded their charter plane for tonight’s game at Orlando, in search of their first road win of the season in a place they’ve lost three seasons in a row, this much was clear:

Mr. Nice Pop wouldn’t be coming with them.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

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Heat 120, Spurs 98: Jan. 17, 2012

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) looks to pass as Miami Heat’s Mike Miller (13) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) passes the ball as Miami Heat’s LeBron James, left, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) wipes his face during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) shoots over San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) and DeJuan Blair (45) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra puts his hand to his head during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) looks to pass as San Antonio Spurs’ Daniel Green (4) and Matt Bonner (15) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Norris Cole (30) looks to pass the ball as San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and Richard Jefferson (24) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh (1) shoots as San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade cheers from the bench during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat defeated the Spurs 120-98. Wade did not play due to a sprained right ankle. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Miami Heat’s Mike Miller (13) reacts after shooting a 3-pointer as San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. Miller contributed 18 points as the Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’, from left, DeJuan Blair, Richard Jefferson, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Danny Green watch from the bench in the closing seconds of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) drives to the basket as Miami Heat’s James Jones (22) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich watches his team during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Miami Heat, Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, in Miami. The Heat won 120-98. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) (AP)

Is RJ fated to be a casualty of the amnesty clause?

Most observers are expecting that there will be some kind of “amnesty clause” as a result of the end of the lockout.

This, quite simply, will provide all teams with an out to get out from under one onerous contract.

ESPN.com reports that” is expected this year, according to sources close to the negotiations. Early reports are that teams will receive cap relief and tax relief: 75 percent of a player’s contract value will not count against the salary cap when it is shed via amnesty.

that San Antonio Spurs majority owner Peter Holt has been at the forefront of a successful push to allow teams to have at least two years to decide whether or not to release one player via amnesty, as opposed to the 2005 version that gave clubs two weeks in August to use or lose the amnesty option forever.

Holt strategy is an interesting one. It would effectively allow the Spurs the chance to keep their current roster together for one more season — which also is likely to be Tim Duncan’s final season.

It would give the Spurs an opportunity to get some sizable cap relief in one more season.

Chad Ford and Marc Stein of ESPN.com have crafted a list of potential casualties that includes one per team. They have Richard Jefferson listed as the most likely player to be cut, although the Spurs are considered lukewarm at immediately using the provision.

Which helps explainwhy the Spurs can avoid casting Jefferson aside in spite of the $9.3 million, $10.2 million and $11 million that he is scheduled to earn over the next three seasons.

It makes sense that the Spurs want to keep fielding the strongest team possible before Duncan decides to retire. But the Spurs’ aims could be forced if the new luxury-tax scale is extremely punitive. That would be financially crippling for a franchise that has lost money in each of the last two seasons (according to Holt) and would still be above $65 million in 2011-12 even without him.

It’s also interesting to scan some of the names that are listed as potential amnesty candidates.

Considering the current weaknesses of the Spurs, players like Cleveland guard Baron Davis, Milwaukee guard Beno Udrih, Miami guard Mike Miller, Orlando forward Hedo Turkoglu and Philadelphia forward/center Elton Brand would help the team.

What about it Spurs Nation? Would you like to see Jefferson leave the franchise? And which of the potential amnesty candidates do you think would most help the team?

Or, would you prefer to use the amnesty clause next season?