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Fired-up Richardson erupts for nine 3s, leads Saturday’s S&Ds

Here’s a warning for rival fans who might taunt Orlando guard Jason Richardson: he listens.

After being berated by a rival fan early in the game, Richardson erupted for 28 of his 31 points in the second half to lead the Magic’s 99-94 victory at Milwaukee.

A courtside spectator yelled ”you’re washed up” at Richardson during the first quarter.

Richardson told reporters after the game that he was listening — particularly after missing his first three shots during that first quarter.

“I’m a competitor,” Richardson told the Associated Press. “I love when people talk trash to me.”

But this particular taunt rubbed Richardson the wrong way.

“When you go past the line where I thought the guy did,” he said, “I had to show the guy I wasn’t.”

Richardson hit four 3-pointers in the fourth quarter to spark the Magic’s comeback.

“People think that once you turn a certain age, you don’t have it anymore. You don’t have the certain style of play you used to play,” Richardson said. “I’m still young, so I had to show the guy I still had energy.”

Enough, that is, to lead Saturday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Orlando G Jason Richardson: Erupted for 31 points in 25 minutes, including nine 3-pointers, and was a team-best plus-19 in the Magic’s victory at Milwaukee. Richardson was the second player to top 30 points in 26 minutes or less this season.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Tallied 18 points, 14 assists, five rebounds, two steals and was plus-28 in the Clippers’ victory at Charlotte.

New York G Jeremy Lin: Another night, another big performance as he directed the Knicks’ fourth straight victory. Lin tallied 20 points, six rebounds, eight assists, was plus-5 and hit a couple of clutch foul shots to lead the Knicks’ victory at Minnesota.

Minnesota F Kevin Love: Went for 32 points and 21 rebounds — his second 30-20 of the season and sixth of his career — in the Trail Blazers’ loss to New York.

Portland F LaMarcus Aldridge: Notched 33 points and 12 rebounds and was plus-1 in the Trail Blazers’ overtime loss at Dallas.

DUDS

Charlotte F Reggie Williams: Clanked through a 1-for-12 shooting effort with two points and was minus-17 in the Bobcats’ loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Milwaukee G Brandon Jennings: Went 3 of 14 from the field with three turnovers and was minus-9 in the Bucks’ loss to Orlando.

New Jersey F Marshon Brooks: Struggled with a 2-for-10 shooting night, scored seven points, had six turnovers and was a team-worst minus-19 in the Nets’ loss to San Antonio.

Sacramento G Tyreke Evans: Hit 1 for 9 from the field with four turnovers and was minus-9 in the Kings’ loss to Phoenix.

New Jersey F Shawne Williams: Clanked through a 1-for-9 shooting night and was minus-14 in the Nets’ loss to the Spurs.

Spurs drub Denver to finish rodeo trip

By Mike Monroe

DENVER — Fresh off the worst defeat for any Spurs team since 1997, a 40-point thumping in Portland, this season’s Spurs came out against the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center as if they intended to secure their most lopsided victory in the past dozen seasons.

Leading by as many as 28 in the first half, the Spurs eventually settled for a 114-99 victory that closed out their ninth rodeo road trip with an 8-1 record.

Only in 2002-03, when the Spurs lost the first game of the inaugural rodeo trip and won the final eight, had the club produced as good a record for the extended journey.

No team in NBA history has had a better stretch of nine consecutive road games. But closing the trip out with a convincing victory was more important for what it prevented — five days of dwelling on what would have been back-to-back losses.

“It was great to get the win,” team captain Tim Duncan said. “It was important to start the game the right way, and we did that. We were happy with the outcome.”

The rest coach Gregg Popovich gave Duncan and All-Star point guard Tony Parker by holding them out of Tuesday’s game in Portland, derided as an insult to the game in some media quarters, proved a solid strategy. Duncan scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Parker took only four shots in the first half but finished with 16 points and 12 assists.

At 23 years of age, DeJuan Blair doesn’t need extra rest. He played 20-plus minutes in Portland but still had plenty left in Denver. Making 8 of 10 shots in the first half, he finished with 28 points, matching a career high. He also grabbed 12 rebounds.

“I don’t know what got into me,” Blair said. “All-Star break coming up, maybe. I was pretty aggressive. It was fun. A lot of fun.

“We wanted to come out and set the tone. They came off a loss last night, and we were coming off a huge loss. We wanted to hit, hit, hit them first.”

Blair’s aggression hit the Nuggets immediately. He made four of five shots in the first period, when the Spurs jumped out to a 31-15 lead.

“That’s what DeJuan always does,” Duncan said. “He finds a way to score the ball. He’s like a magnet to the ball. It’s just about getting his opportunities. He got a lot of those tonight, and he’ll finish them. He’ll put them in.”

Next up for ever team is All-Star Weekend, a five-day vacation for every Spurs player but Western Conference All-Star Tony Parker and rookie Kawhi Leonard, who will play in tonight’s Rising Stars Challenge.

It will be a welcome break for a team with three players on the injured list. Guard Manu Ginobili and center Tiago Splitter are still more than a week from their projected returns, and point guard T.J. Ford might miss the next game or two before returning.

Those injuries make every day without a game a bonus for the Spurs, now 24-10. Even their youngest player, 20-year-old Leonard, was feeling the fatigue of the rodeo trip. Feeling tightness in both calves at halftime Thursday, he sat out the second half, a luxury afforded to Popovich by their big lead.

As much rest as Duncan, Parker and their teammates got after the debacle in Portland, the short-handed Nuggets were primed for a fatigue-induced letdown. They arrived in Denver after 2 in the morning Thursday from a Wednesday night loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles.

Popovich said Thursday’s game was not a fair contest.

“Considering what (the Nuggets) had to go through, not just with injuries but with the schedule they just had, it was not a fair fight. They deserve a lot of credit for hanging in the whole game and making a run. A lot of teams would have packed it in. They showed a lot of character, and I’m sure (coach) George (Karl) is proud of them for that.”

mikemonroe@express-news.net
twitter.com/Monroe_SA

– Associated Press photos

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Spurs 114, Nuggets 99: Feb. 23, 2012

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) scores with Denver Nuggets center Chris Andersen (11) defending during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) and head coach Gregg Popovich, right, talk on the sideline during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs point guard Tony Parker (9) drives by Denver Nuggets center Kosta Koufos (41) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

Denver Nuggets’ Jordan Hamilton, front left, and Kenneth Faried, right, collide in midair while reaching for a rebound against the San Antonio Spurs during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) drives past Denver Nuggets center Kosta Koufos (41) during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) attempts a basket after being fouled by Denver Nuggets shooting guard Arron Afflalo during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs power forward Matt Bonner warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

Denver Nuggets guard Jordan Hamilton, from right, holds onto the ball after colliding with San Antonio Spurs small forward Richard Jefferson during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) leaves the game for a quick break during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets, Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. The Spurs won 114-99. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

Denver Nuggets small forward Corey Brewer (13) scores past San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. The Spurs won 114-99. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair, top, blocks a shot by Denver Nuggets small forward Corey Brewer, bottom, but fouled him in the process during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. The Spurs won 114-99. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs center Tim Duncan (21) looks to pass with Denver Nuggets small forward Corey Brewer (13) defending during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012 in Denver. The Spurs won 114-99. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair (45) tries to drive past Denver Nuggets power forward Al Harrington (7) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012, in Denver. The Spurs won 114-99. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez) (AP)

Ginobili’s return may throw wrench into works, for now

NEWARK, N.J. — A small crowd of students gathered outside the nondescript community college gym in midtown Manhattan on Friday, straining for a glimpse of the NBA team that had invaded their school.

Beyond the closed double doors, Spurs guard Manu Ginobili was going through a full-team, full-contact practice that would determine his availability for tonight’s game in New Jersey.

After about an hour, Ginobili emerged with the answer to one question, immediately giving rise to a host of others. Yes, he would play against the Nets, making his return from a broken left hand after a 39-day absence.

But.

“I don’t have great expectations for the first couple of games,” Ginobili said. “I just want to contribute, help a little bit. Just try to fit in again.”

Tonight at the Prudential Center, Ginobili rejoins a team on a roll. The Spurs went 15-7 in the 22 games he missed since his Jan. 2 injury in Minnesota, and own the NBA’s longest current winning streak at six games.

The Spurs (18-9) have ridden a wave of team chemistry to the top of the Southwest

Division, one spot below Oklahoma City in the Western

Conference. Players and coaches alike recognize the team might have to push pause on all of that to reintegrate the 34-year-old Ginobili into the rotation.

“Maybe it screws us up for a while, maybe it doesn’t,” coach Gregg Popovich said.

But.

It has to be done. The alternative — not reintegrating Ginobili — is too absurd even for words.

“No disrespect to my young teammates, but I don’t care how good they’re playing,” All-Star point guard Tony Parker said. “I’ll play with Manu any time of the day, even if he’s 50 percent.”

Popovich will ease Ginobili along slowly, perhaps bringing him off the bench at first, almost certainly limiting his playing time for a while.

Asked whether he has targeted a specific number of minutes for Ginobili tonight in New Jersey, Popovich said, “Not many.”

In truth, Ginobili has been gently prodding to get back on the floor since the start of the rodeo trip Monday in Memphis. As the days passed, Ginobili’s request became progressively more forceful.

Ginobili said he has full confidence in his surgically repaired fifth metacarpal. He doesn’t feel compelled to subdue his instinctive, breakneck style to accommodate it.

“I went for a couple steals (in practice), and I felt good,” Ginobili said.

That’s notable given the way Ginobili injured himself in the first place — making a feverish swipe at Minnesota’s Anthony Tolliver for a steal.

Ginobili admits he is in no kind of playing shape after the extended time off, but argued the only way to get there is on the court.

“I want to play,” said Ginobili, who was averaging a team-best 17.4 points at the time of his injury. “I need to be there. I can’t play one-on-one all year long.”

Having finally carved out an hour in the lockout-condensed schedule for a full practice, Popovich figures now is the time.

“He’s Manu,” Popovich said. “When he’s ready to go, you don’t care if you’re winning, losing. It doesn’t matter. He’s coming back.”

Ginobili’s return won’t come seamlessly.

Popovich will have to tweak a rotation that has produced results to find an increasing number of minutes for him. Somebody who is playing well — be it Danny Green, Kawhi Leonard, Gary Neal, Richard Jefferson, maybe even Parker — will lose time.

The Spurs might have to take a small step back in order to take a giant leap forward. If that’s the cost to get Ginobili back and in stride come playoff time, they are willing to pay it.

“We need Manu bad,” Parker said. “If we want to go anywhere — anywhere — in the playoffs, we need Manu 100 percent. It’s not even a question.”

jmcdonald@express-news.net