Samuel Dalembert | SAN ANTONIO SPURS TICKETS

Spurs take Game Four

The San Antonio Spurs came into game four knowing that they needed a much better performance than what they put on Sunday afternoon. They did just that, coming out and quickly putting the Mavericks in a 20-point deficit. In the end, the Spurs walked out of American Airlines Center with a 93-89 victory.

The Mavericks battled back and at one point in the game was tied at 87 apiece. The Spurs then ran a simple pick and roll play with Tony Parker being trailed by Devin Harris. Nowitzki, who was in foul trouble most of the fourth quarter, was playing a bit too soft and the defensive exchange did not happen in time giving Boris Diaw time to float to the top of the key the go-ahead 3-pointer.

“It was just a regular pick-and-roll,” Diaw said. “We try to put Dirk Nowitzki in pick-and-roll because it’s harder for him than for [Samuel] Dalembert, for example, to switch on Tony. It’s harder for Dirk to be able to help and come back to the player that set the screen. That’s why I was the one on the pick-and-roll. That’s exactly what happened. He helped on Tony and he was a little late and I was wide open for the three.”

Before the game, both the Spurs and the Mavericks showed solidarity to the Clippers organization and protested the Clippers owner by wearing black socks.

“My understanding is that the whole league is doing it,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “The fact that they’re together and doing it to basically say that this is not right, is something I respect.”

“We’re going to do the same thing that Houston and Portland did,” Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich said before the game. “Both teams are going to wear the black socks. Rick (Carlisle) and I talked and we’re both going to wear them in support.”

Tickets for GAME FIVE are still available so be sure to get yours now and support your San Antonio Spurs

Stuckey’s big night leads S&Ds, Pistons’ OT victory over Lakers

It was almost like the good ol’ days at the Palace at Auburn Hills Tuesday night.

A sellout crowd — only the fourth of the season for the Pistons — turned out to watch the lone appearance by Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers of the year.

And Rodney Stuckey brought back memories of the good days for the Pistons, erupting for 34 points to lead them to an 88-85 overtime victory.

Stuckey scored six points in overtime to lead the Pistons to the win after Bryant hit a shot a tying shot at the end of regulation.

“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 told the Associated Press. “It’s going to take time. It’s all a process.”

After starting the lockout season 4-20, the Pistons have won nine of their last 15 under new coach Lawrence Frank. Stuckey’s recent development has been a major reason.

“Stuckey did an unbelievable job of attacking the paint,” Frank told the AP. “Kobe made a great shot to put the game into overtime and yet our guys kept the resolve.”

STUDS

Detroit G Rodney Stuckey: Erupted for 34 points to lead the Pistons’ overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

Boston F Paul Pierce: Scored a game-high 30 points, six rebounds, two assists, two steals and was plus-9 in the Celtics’ overtime victory over Houston.

Charlotte F Corey Maggette: Went for 29 points, seven rebounds and was plus-19 in the Bobcats’ victory over Orlando.

Dallas F Dirk Nowitzki: Produced 28 points and was plus-16 in the Mavericks’ victory over New York.

Atlanta F Josh Smith: Notched 27 points, nine rebounds and was plus-9 in the Hawks’ victory at Indiana.

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet for 21 points, nine rebounds, six assists and was plus-20 in the Heat’s victory over New Jersey.

Los Angeles Lakers C Andrew Bynum: Went for 30 points, 14 rebounds, three blocked shots and was plus-8 in the Lakers’ overtime loss to Detroit.

DUDS

Orlando’s forwards: Starters Hedo Turkoglu and Ryan Anderson combined to hit only 7 of 25 from the field with 20 combined points, five turnovers and a combined minus-32 in the Magic’s loss at Charlotte.

New York F Carmelo Anthony: Hit 2 for 12 from the field with two turnovers and was minus-18 in the Knicks’ loss at Dallas.

Indiana F Tyler Hansbrough: Went 1 of 4 from the field with a turnover and was a team-worst minus-13 in the Pacers’ loss to Atlanta.

Houston C Samuel Dalembert: Struggled through a 4-for-11 shooting effort with three turnovers and was a team-worst minus-15 in the Rockets’ overtime loss at Boston.

New Jersey G Gerald Green: Clanked through a 1-for-7 shooting night with three turnovers and was minus-8 in the Nets’ loss at Miami.

Detroit C Greg Monroe: Went 1 of 10 from the field and was minus-6 in the Pistons’ overtime victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.

New York G Jeremy Lin: Struggled through a 4-for-13 shooting effort with two turnovers and was minus-11 in the Knicks’ loss at Dallas.

Buck Harvey: Splitter earns time next to Duncan

HOUSTON — Luis Scola and Tiago Splitter went from South America to Spain to Texas.

Only now are they in a different place.

There was a time when the Spurs wondered if Scola and Tim Duncan were a good fit on the court together.

Today, the Spurs have to wonder if they have any other choice but to play Splitter with Duncan.

Scola met Splitter when Splitter was just 15 years old. “He was a little kid,” Scola said Saturday, smiling, and that’s a memory that would surprise some. Splitter already was close to his 6-foot-11 size then.

Scola also remembers him as smart. They were teammates for five years in Spain, where Splitter admits Scola was the better player.

But Scola says Splitter improved, year by year, and Saturday showed how much. Then, with Duncan sitting out, Splitter went for a career-high and team-high 25 points on ?11-of-13 shooting.

“He’s a big-time pro,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said afterward. “He’s a workhorse … he plays the game the right way.”

He did that most notably in the fourth quarter. He posted, worked with Tony Parker, scored with an offensive rebound and generally gave the Spurs a chance.

Asked if Splitter needed to be on the court more, Popovich shrugged. “It’s hard to get him on the court any more than he is because he is playing a lot. There are only two bigs at a time, and sometimes only one because teams play small. He’s getting as much time as I can play him.”

It’s not much time. Splitter was averaging just 20 minutes coming into Houston. The 25 minutes he played against Sacramento the night before was the most since opening night.

There are reasons. Matchups dictate different lineups, as does the rotation. Starting DeJuan Blair with Duncan, for example, allows Popovich to have either Duncan or Splitter in the lineup.

Splitter says he understands. Besides, it’s not his job to decide such things. “It is Pop’s job,” he said.

Popovich’s decisions are changing this season, though, as he learns more about his roster. And what he keeps learning, as Splitter gets more and more comfortable with the NBA game, is that his backup center might be even better than he thought.

For example, has Popovich already been rethinking the night before against Sacramento? Then, with the Spurs’ shooters missing as they did again Saturday, they failed to go to Splitter in the post. He had only six attempts in the game.

It’s becoming clearer Splitter needs more touches and more time. And eventually, as Popovich and his staff debate the pros and cons of various lineups, they will come to an issue that once included Scola.

Who is the best fit next to Duncan?

Scola says no one with the Spurs ever told him he couldn’t play with Duncan. But among the reasons the Spurs traded him to the Rockets was this:

Would they get in each other’s way on the low block? Did Duncan need another kind of complement other than a scorer?

The years have changed the equation, with Duncan drifting farther out on offense. But so has the roster. Even if the defensive matchups aren’t ideal, sometimes the best players have to be on the floor no matter.

In Duncan’s absence, Splitter looked like one of them. Popovich spoke afterward as if he is one of them, too, as did Scola. He thinks Splitter will be a solid NBA big man for years to come.

So when asked if his former teammate, if this onetime “little kid,” could play next to Duncan, as some once questioned whether he could, Scola said what Popovich and his assistants are likely saying today.

“Why not?” Scola asked.

bharvey@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

1 of 13 | Share

Rockets 105, Spurs 102 – Jan. 21, 2012

San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich gestures to his players in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) and Houston Rockets’ Samuel Dalembert, right, battle for the ball in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

Houston Rockets’ Chandler Parsons (25) passes the ball over San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) bowls over Houston Rockets’ Patrick Patterson (54) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. Blair was called for an offensive foul on the play. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

Houston Rockets’ Patrick Patterson, center, is double-teamed by San Antonio Spurs Gary Neal (14) and Richard Jefferson (24) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson chews on his shirt in the final minutes of an NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) passes the ball under pressure from Houston Rockets’ Samuel Dalembert (21) in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

Houston Rockets’ Patrick Patterson (54) and San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) go after a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

Houston Rockets Courtney Lee (5) and Jordan Hill (27) watch the final seconds of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

Houston Rockets coach Kevin McHale questions a call in the first half of an NBA basketball game against the San Antonio Spurs Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

Houston Rockets’ Patrick Patterson (54) and San Antonio Spurs’ Richard Jefferson (24) go after a loose ball in the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Kawhi Leonard (2) tries to maintain control of the ball as Houston Rockets’ Kevin Martin, left, pursues during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. The Rockets won 105-102. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9) shoots over Houston Rockets’ Courtney Lee (5) in the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012, in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) (AP)