"Spurs forward Richard Jefferson is relatively certain he's playing better now than he was earlier in the season.

After all, he's getting plenty of positive feedback from coach Gregg Popovich.

"Pop is only cussing me out once or twice a game now, instead of five or six," Jefferson said. "So that's encouraging."

In reality, Popovich has been thrilled with what Jefferson has been producing in three games since rejoining the starting lineup.

He had his third solid effort in Tuesday's 88-76 victory at Miami, notching 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting and snaring eight rebounds.

More encouraging, meanwhile, was the manner in which Jefferson got his final two field goals.

With the Spurs struggling to generate offense in the fourth quarter, and Miami having reduced a 26-point deficit to as little as six, Jefferson twice put his head down and drove for tough baskets.

"He's playing aggressively now and not deferring to other people," Popovich said. "He's understanding he's got to score for us and take on some of the load, where I think he left that for others at the start of the season."

In the meantime, Jefferson has developed into the Spurs' best rebounding wing player. He has snatched at least eight in five consecutive games."