McGraw: Nets' Williams OK with move to bench
Not counting his rookie year, Brooklyn point guard Deron Williams had started 593 of 599 games in the NBA until a calf injury kept him out of two contests last week.
Now Williams is coming off the bench for the Nets. Tuesday was his fourth straight game playing a reserve role.
There have been trade rumors involving the former Illinois star, with Sacramento mentioned as a possible destination. Brooklyn has the NBA's highest payroll, and Williams is a big reason for that. He's getting $19.8 million this season and is owed $43.3 million over the next two years.
Heading into Tuesday's action, the Nets had gone 4-1 with Jarrett Jack and Sergey Karasev as the starting guards. Center Brook Lopez also was coming off the bench, though he started against the Bulls because Kevin Garnett took the night off.
"We're winning, man. That's all that matters," Williams said Monday, according to the New York Post. "We're team guys. We're not selfish. We're not bigger than the team. … That first group is definitely rocking right now, so let 'em rock."
Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins took the angle of don't change what's working
"Brook and Deron, yes, they were starters," Hollins said. "They've been out (injured), and if you note that while they were out we started playing better and winning, so why would I go back and change the lineup for now?"
Snell stops drought:
When Tony Snell knocked down a corner 3-pointer at the 3:55 mark of the second quarter, it ended an astonishing streak.
Even though Snell plays in most every game, those were his first points in 36 days. He hadn't scored since getting 5 points Nov. 24 at Utah.
In the meantime, Snell went 0-for-13 from the field, mostly in limited action. He added another 3-pointer in the final minute of the first half and finished with 9 points Tuesday against Brooklyn.
Butler hits rare winner:
According to Elias Sports Bureau, Jimmy Butler's go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:07 left in Monday's win at Indiana was his first game-winning basket in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter.
Butler did hit a game-winner in the playoffs last season, a 3-pointer with 24 seconds left in Game 3 at Washington.
Garnett gets off ground:
Brooklyn's Kevin Garnett sat out Tuesday against the Bulls for a day of rest. On Monday against Sacramento, the 38-year-old Garnett had an alley-oop dunk and didn't appreciate reporters making a big deal out of it after the game.
"I know I'm like 150 years in dog years, but I can actually dunk the ball," Garnett said, according to the New York Post. "This is a low moment for me. Everyone is like, 'Oooh, you dunked!' … My daughter was like, 'Daddy, you dunked!' "