Nets Have No Trouble Routing Kings, 117-83

No matter how Byron Scott tried to modify it, the Sacramento King-New Jersey Net game was best described with one word.

“It was a little ‘Wow,’” Scott said after the Nets dealt the Kings their worst loss of the season Monday night, 117-83, in a matchup of the top teams from the Eastern and Western Conferences at East Rutherford, N.J.

“I was a little surprised we were beating them like we were beating them, but our guys were really in tune tonight; they wanted to play really well against the team that has the best record in the league,” Scott said.

One third-quarter sequence illustrated how the Nets were the faster and sharper team.

After Sacramento committed a turnover, Jason Kidd took the ball on the sideline and caught the Kings napping, firing a 70-foot baseball pass to Keith Van Horn for a layup. Two seconds later, Kerry Kittles picked off Chris Webber’s inbounds pass and calmly sank a three-pointer.

The five-point sequence came as part of a 25-8 run to open the third quarter as the Nets turned a 57-54 halftime advantage into an 82-62 lead.

The Kings, playing the second half of a back-to-back set, never threatened the rest of the way.

San Antonio 113, Minnesota 83--David Robinson had 13 points and 15 rebounds and seven Spurs scored in double figures at San Antonio.

The Spurs played most of the second half without Tim Duncan, who was ejected along with Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett early in the third quarter.

At 9:49 in the third, referee Luis Grillo called a technical on Garnett after he started yelling at Duncan during some rough play under the Spur basket. Duncan smiled and was walking away, but he then turned and said something to Garnett.

Grillo hit him with a technical and ejected both players. There was no physical contact between the players

Houston 104, Utah 97--Steve Francis made 18 of 22 free-throw attempts and scored 33 points to lead the Rockets at Houston.

Houston led late in the fourth quarter when Utah rallied behind Karl Malone, who scored seven points in a 9-3 run that gave the Jazz a 90-89 lead with 4:36 remaining.

The Rockets answered, as Moochie Norris scored five points in a 7-0 run, and Houston moved out to a 96-90 lead with 2:39 left.

Toronto 100, Philadelphia 93--Vince Carter scored 13 of his 28 points in the third quarter at Philadelphia.

Allen Iverson scored 36 points for the 76ers, but was ejected after getting his second technical foul with 6.3 seconds left.

Michael and Juanita Jordan are giving their marriage another try. The Jordans, who announced last month they were divorcing after 12 years of marriage, said they are attempting a reconciliation. Juanita Jordan also withdrew the divorce petition she filed Jan. 4.... Charlotte guard David Wesley will be out three to four weeks because of a broken foot.