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Rose bounces back for 35 to lead Monday’s S&Ds

NBA reigning MVP Derrick Rose couldn’t wait to put an embarrassing performance behind him as quickly as he could.

Only a day after his two missed free throws and a missed late shot led to a loss, Rose erupted for a season-best 35 points Monday to lead Chicago to a 95-85 victory over Washington.

Rose scored 13 points in the first quarter as the Bulls jumped ahead early and never trailed in the victory.

“I just played my game—and that’s me being aggressive,” Rose told the Associated Press.

Before the game, Rose vowed never to repeat his late crumble against Miami on Sunday.

“If I ever get in that position again, I know it will be totally different. Yesterday isn’t going to do anything but make me stronger as a player,” Rose said.

It helped catapult him to the top of Monday’s Studs and Duds.

STUDS

Chicago G Derrick Rose: Went for 35 points, eight assists, three blocked shots, two steals and was plus-13 in the Bulls’ triumph at Washington.

Los Angeles Clippers G Chris Paul: Went for 26 points, 14 assists, two steals and was plus-10 in the Clippers’ victory over the Thunder.

Minnesota F Michael Beasley: Came off the bench to score 34 points on 10-for-14 shooting and was plus-4 in the Timberwolves’ victory at the Rockets.

Miami F LeBron James: Filled the stat sheet for 22 points, 11 rebounds, eight rebounds and was a team-best plus-29 in the Heat’s victory over New Orleans.

Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant: Notched 36 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots in the Thunder’s loss at the Clippers.

DUDS

Memphis F Rudy Gay: Limited to one point as he missed all seven shots from the field for his lowest scoring effort since his rookie season in 2006-07. For good measure, he picked up a technical and was minus-11 in the Grizzlies’ loss to the Spurs.

Minnesota F Wesley Johnson: Went 2 for 7 from the field with six turnovers in the Timberwolves’ victory over the Rockets.

Detroit G Brandon Knight: Clanked through an 0-for-4 shooting night with four turnovers and was minus-20 in the Pistons’ loss at the Bucks.

Orlando F Hedo Turkoglu: Went 1 for 9 from the field with two turnovers and was minus-10 in the Magic’s loss at the 76ers.

Oklahoma City F James Harden: Clanked through a 2-for-10 shooting night with three turnovers and was minus-11 in the Thunder’s loss to the Clippers.

TP’s monster game vs. OKC ranks among NBA’s best this season

Tony Parker’s big game Saturday still resonates even 36 hours after it was produced.

Parker erupted for a season-high 42 points and nine assists to lead the Spurs’ 107-96 victory over Oklahoma City. In the process, it enabled Parker to be included among a handful of the very best all-around games in the NBA so far this season.

The must-read web site compiles a game score for each player and each game under a formula developed by ESPN.com’s John Hollinger. It’s a convoluted formula ( for those interested) that takes into account all aspects of a player’s statistical performance.

Parker’s game against Oklahoma City ranked as the third-best in the league this season, trailing only Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant.

Here’s a list of the top individual single-game performers according to their Hollinger game scores.

Dwight Howard, Orlando — 41.3 — 45 points, 23 rebounds, three assists, four steals, two blocks in the Magic’s 117-109 victory over Golden State (Jan. 12).

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers — 36.9 — 48 points, five rebounds, three assists, three steals in Lakers’ 99-83 victory over Phoenix (Jan. 10).

Tony Parker, San Antonio — 36.4 — 42 points, three rebounds, nine assists, two steals, one block in the Spurs’ 107-96 victory over Oklahoma City (Feb. 4).

John Wall, Washington — 35.5 — 38 points, six rebounds, eight assists, four steals, one block in the Wizards’ 114-106 loss to Houston (Jan. 16).

LeBron James, Miami — 34.1 — 37 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, two steals, two blocks in Heat’s 105-94 victory at Dallas. (Dec. 25).

LeBron James, Miami — 33.8 — 33 points, eight rebounds, 13 assists, two steals in the Heat’s 118-83 victory over Indiana (Jan. 4).

Deron Williams, New Jersey — 33.6 — 35 points, two rebounds, 14 assists in the Nets’ 110-103 victory at Phoenix (Jan. 13).

LeBron James, Miami — 33.2 — 35 points, six rebounds, seven assists, three steals, two blocks in the Heat’s 96-95 victory at Charlotte (Dec. 28).

Stephen Curry, Golden State — 32.8 — 32 points, six rebounds, seven assists, four steals in the Warriors’ 101-93 victory over Portland (Jan. 25).

Derrick Rose, Chicago — 32.6 — 29 points, eight rebounds, 16 assists, one steal in the Bulls’ 114-101 victory at the Los Angeles Clippers (Dec. 30).

Paul George, Indiana — 32.6 — 30 points, nine rebounds, five assists, five steals, one block in the Pacers’ 98-87 victory at Dallas. (Feb. 3).

Greg Monroe, Detroit — 32.5 — 32 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, two steals, one block in the Pistons’ 102-93 loss at Milwaukee (Jan. 12).

Paul Pierce, Boston — 32.1 — 34 points, eight rebounds, 10 assists, three steals in the Celtics’ 100-94 victory at Washington (Jan. 22).

Anthony Morrow, New Jersey — 32.0 — 42 points, four rebounds, two assists in the Nets’ 108-105 loss to Minnesota (Feb. 3)

Ginobili’s return is a cruise

By Jeff McDonald

NEWARK, N.J. — Gregg Popovich worried about Manu Ginobili, because this is what Popovich does.

Specifically on Saturday, the Spurs coach was worried that Ginobili, back on the floor after a 22-game absence with a broken left hand, might spontaneously combust.

“It will be fun to see him, but there’s no telling what might go on,” Popovich said before what became an easy-does-it 103-89 victory over New Jersey. “He hasn’t played in so long. He might burst the first time he touches the ball.”

Ginobili didn’t explode. But late in the second quarter at the Prudential Center, he showed why Popovich might prefer to encase his star guard in bubble wrap until May.

Closing out hard on the Nets’ Anthony Morrow on a corner 3-pointer at the halftime horn, Ginobili went hurtling into the first row of seats.

Morrow missed, but Ginobili was so upset with himself for misreading the play, he whacked himself in the head with his surgically repaired hand.

Gary Neal scored 18 points to lead a list of six players in double figures for the Spurs, who built a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter and cruised to their seventh consecutive victory and third in a row to open the rodeo trip.

The best news the Spurs (19-9) received Saturday, however: The fifth metacarpal in Ginobili’s left hand is again strong enough to survive being attached to him.

“I felt good,” Ginobili reported after logging 17 minutes off the bench in his first action since Jan. 2. “I wasn’t going to do too many things, first because I can’t. I’m not ready. I need to slowly start getting back into basketball shape.”

Ginobili made his return at the 7:06 mark of the first quarter. Moments later, he logged his first points in 39 days when he scooped up a loose ball and scrambled the length of the floor for a layup.

The 34-year-old guard finished with eight points on 4-of-7 shooting and four assists, most of them working the pick-and-roll with DeJuan Blair and Tiago Splitter. He missed both his 3-point tries.

“The legs for the threes aren’t going to be there yet, but he got a good start,” Popovich said. “Scored a little bit, got a few assists, got a good rhythm. I thought he drove it pretty well, passed it pretty well. It was good to see.”

To Ginobili’s teammates, who went 15-7 without him, just getting the Argentine playmaker on the floor Saturday was cause enough for optimism.

“Just seeing him in uniform was great,” said point guard Tony Parker, who had 10 of his 12 points in the first half.

Even in the funky red, white and blue Dallas Chaparrals uniforms the Spurs donned Saturday as part of a salute to the ABA.

In truth, Ginobili was worried Saturday, too. Not for his own safety, but for what his return might do to his team’s winning streak.

New Jersey looked like a trap game to him, and he didn’t want to be the reason the Spurs fell for it. He needn’t have been concerned.

A balanced scoring attack combined with another sturdy defensive night helped the Spurs put New Jersey (8-21) away early, despite 27 points and eight assists from Deron Williams.

Spurs forward Tim Duncan had 13 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth straight double-double, while Blair (11), Danny Green (10) and Splitter (10) also scored in double-digits.

In the end, the night was about a reserve guard whose numbers were statistically inconsequential to Saturday’s win, but whose mere presence gave the Spurs reason for hope.

Ginobili returned to the Spurs a bit more bionic than before. He has six screws in his shooting hand now, an addition someone joked might cause him problems at airport metal detectors.

“So far, so good,” Ginobili said.

One game into Ginobili’s comeback, the Spurs will take it.

jmcdonald@express-news.net

– Associated Press photos

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Spurs 103, Nets 89: Feb. 11, 2012

New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) blocks a shot by San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair (45) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, reaches for a loose ball in front of New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ MarShon Brooks (9) shoots a layup against the San Antonio Spurs in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Danny Green (4) makes a layup against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ MarShon Brooks (9) shoots between San Antonio Spurs’ DeJuan Blair, left, and Kawhi Leonard (2) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) loses control of the ball under pressure from San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) and DeJuan Blair (45) during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich talks with official Marat Kobut in the first half against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) fights for a rebound with San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, and Kawhi Leonard (2) in the first half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Sundiata Gaines (1) shoots as San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, defends during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, shoots against New Jersey Nets’ Shawne Williams (7) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) pulls down a rebound against the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tiago Splitter (22), of Brazil, loses the ball as New Jersey Nets’ Kris Humphries (43) defends in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)

New Jersey Nets’ Shelden Williams (33) fights for the ball with San Antonio Spurs’ Manu Ginobili (20), of Argentina, in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

San Antonio Spurs’ Tony Parker (9), of France, collides with New Jersey Nets’ Jordan Farmar (2) as he drives to the basket in the second half during an NBA basketball game in Newark, N.J., Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. The Spurs won 103-89. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (AP)