Nets Show Knicks They Are New Show in Town

Even if the New Jersey Nets are reluctant to talk about it, there’s a new top team in the New York metropolitan area.

And it’s not the team with the New York in front of its nickname.

Jason Kidd had 12 points and a season-high 15 assists, and the Nets continued the best start in their NBA history, defeating the Knicks, 109-83, Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J., for their fifth consecutive win.

“There were a lot of questions floating around before the game and hopefully we’ve answered a lot of them,” said Kidd, whose arrival this season has coincided with the Nets’ rise to power.

The Nets’ 7-1 record is the best in the Eastern Conference. It’s also something few expected from a team that missed the playoffs six of the last seven seasons.

Kenyon Martin added 21 points, Todd MacCulloch had 16 and Keith Van Horn 14 as the Nets ended the Knicks’ two-game winning streak.

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Philadelphia 98, Atlanta 78--Aaron McKie returned from a one-game absence and had 20 points, seven assists and six rebounds, and Allen Iverson added 19, leading the 76ers at Atlanta.

After losing five straight to open the season, the defending Eastern Conference champions have won four in a row since Iverson returned from elbow surgery. McKie, who missed the last game because of a right foot sprain, shot nine for 13, including two three-pointers.

Utah 101, Washington 92--Michael Jordan scored a season-high 44 points in his best game of his comeback, but he also matched the longest losing streak of his NBA career as Jazz won at Washington.

Jordan made more shots than the rest of his team combined, but Karl Malone scored 30 points and Donyell Marshall had 28--both season highs--as the Jazz sent the Wizards to their sixth consecutive loss.

Charlotte 96, Miami 87--Baron Davis scored 23 points and David Wesley added 21 at Miami as the Hornets handed the Heat its fifth consecutive loss.

The teams were tied at 73 after three quarters, and Charlotte outscored Miami, 23-14, in the fourth. Wesley had seven points during a 12-4 fourth-quarter run.

Minnesota 120, Indiana 113--Kevin Garnett scored 24 points, including a tying basket at the end of the first overtime and four points in the second extra period to lead the Timberwolves at Indianapolis.

Seattle 100, Golden State 91--Gary Payton scored 30 points and rookie Earl Watson of UCLA had nine of his career-high 13 points in the fourth quarter to lead the SuperSonics at Seattle.

San Antonio 105, Cleveland 91--Tim Duncan scored 27 points and Steve Smith made all six of his three-pointers and finished with 22 points as the Spurs won at San Antonio.

Sacramento 105, Chicago 71--Peja Stojakovic scored 21 points as the Kings humbled the slumping Bulls at Sacramento.

Alonzo Mourning will be out indefinitely after doctors reviewed his latest blood tests. Mourning, who sat out three of the last five games because of viral complications believed to be caused by food poisoning, missed 69 games last season because of a kidney disorder. ... Atlanta Hawk center Theo Ratliff will have arthroscopic hip surgery today and be sidelined six to eight weeks. ... Miami Heat Coach Pat Riley was fined $10,000 by the NBA for criticizing referees after his team’s 83-74 loss to New York on Thursday.