Kidd’s Plan Passes Test Against Suns

While driving to the Meadowlands, Jason Kidd came up with his ideal plan.

“My goal was to beat them without scoring. It’s something weird and unheard of, but it was something I wanted to do,” Kidd said.

Kidd was at his unselfish best in his first game against his former team, getting 11 of his 13 assists before he even scored a point Wednesday night as the New Jersey Nets beat the Phoenix Suns, 106-87, Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Repeatedly setting up teammates for easy baskets and playing the role of the quintessential playmaker, Kidd’s passing helped the Nets open a 69-54 lead before he hit a three-point basket with 4:15 left in the third.

Kidd finished with six points, nine rebounds and four steals for the Nets, while the player he was traded for--Stephon Marbury--never got untracked offensively and finished with 15 points and seven assists.

Kerry Kittles scored a season-high 24 points, Kenyon Martin added 22, Keith Van Horn had 19 and Todd MacCulloch 15 as the Nets ended the Suns’ five-game winning streak and remained in first place in the Atlantic Division.

*

Boston 95, Denver 80--Paul Pierce scored 35 points and Antoine Walker added 28 at Boston to lead the Celtics to their fifth consecutive victory.

Pierce scored 21 points in the third quarter, outscoring the Nuggets by five points in the period as the Celtics extended a seven-point lead to 22.

Boston is on its longest winning streak since taking six consecutive Jan. 23-Feb. 4.

San Antonio 120, Atlanta 112--Steve Smith scored 29 points and the Spurs held off the Hawks at Atlanta after building a 20-point first-quarter lead.

Bruce Bowen and Tim Duncan scored 21 points apiece. Bowen, a defensive specialist, made all eight of his shots, including four three-pointers, to eclipse his previous career high.

Detroit 95, Seattle 91--Chucky Atkins scored 23 points and Jerry Stackhouse added 19 points and 11 assists as the Pistons won at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Stackhouse matched his career high in assists, but his biggest play was a game-tying three-pointer with two minutes to play.

Orlando 102, Chicago 74--Mike Miller scored 21 points and rookie Steve Hunter had a career-high 17 as the Magic won at Orlando, Fla.

Orlando has won three consecutive--the last two games by a combined 70 points--after a three-game losing streak.

Golden State 93, Philadelphia 87--Larry Hughes scored 22 points against his former team, and Danny Fortson had 11 points and 15 rebounds at Oakland as the Warriors ended a four-game losing streak.

Antawn Jamison scored 19 points as the Warriors ended a string of six consecutive losses to the 76ers by holding off Philadelphia throughout a close fourth quarter. Golden State’s impressive effort against the Eastern Conference champions thrilled the normally somber Oakland crowd.