Nets Prove They’re the Team

The New Jersey Nets don’t have a rivalry with the New York Knicks anymore. Instead, it’s a mismatch.

Jason Kidd had 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and single-handedly halted New York’s rally from a 29-point deficit in leading the Nets to a 115-93 victory over the Knicks on Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

“We’re just a better ball team, basically,” second-year forward Kenyon Martin said after the Nets posted their third lopsided victory over the Knicks this season.

“They’ve been the team in this area for so long,” Martin added. “We go out with extra emphasis on these games. Everybody always downplayed what we’ve been doing. We want everybody to realize we’re the better team in this area.”

A glance at the standings will confirm that. The Nets (37-17) not only hold a 161/2-game lead over the last-place Knicks (20-33) in the Atlantic Division, they also have the best record in the Eastern Conference.

“We understand the tradition and the reputation that the Knicks have,” said Kidd, who has transformed the Nets from a laughingstock into a title contender in less than a year. “They were so dominant for years. We want to fill those shoes.”

Rookie Richard Jefferson had a career-high 22 points and Kerry Kittles had 20 as the Nets had six players in double figures in winning their fifth consecutive and sending the Knicks to their fourth consecutive loss.

It also gave New Jersey a five-game winning streak over New York, the first time that’s happened since an 11-game run from 1983-86.

“They’re a better basketball team right now, that’s what it boils down to,” Knick point guard Mark Jackson said. “They’re a better basketball team. It’s as simple as that.”

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Detroit 80, Toronto 72--Clifford Robinson scored 21 points and former Raptor Corliss Williamson had 12 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter as the Pistons set a franchise record with their seventh consecutive road victory.

“This is unbelievable. We’re on an unbelievable run right now,” Jerry Stackhouse said. “We’re putting up numbers against some of the best that’s ever done it for the Pistons, so we’re really proud about that.”

Antonio Davis had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who have lost seven consecutive since Vince Carter went on the injured list with a strained quadriceps. Toronto is 2-15 without Carter over the last two seasons.

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Cleveland 103, Indiana 93--Andre Miller scored 27 points and Ricky Davis had 20 at Indianapolis as the Cavaliers spoiled the debut of the new-look Pacers.

“We wanted to slide in quietly and slide out quietly while you’re all still excited about the trade,” Cleveland Coach John Lucas said.

New Pacer Brad Miller started at center, made four of his first seven shots and led Indiana with 21 points before fouling out with under a minute left.

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Chicago 91, Phoenix 83--Jalen Rose scored 22 points, Marcus Fizer had 21 and Tyson Chandler had 16 points and eight rebounds at Chicago for the Bulls, who are 2-0 since adding Rose in a trade earlier this week.

“This is a great opportunity, not only for myself but for those guys to get better and learn how to win,” said Rose, who played all 48 minutes.

Stephon Marbury had 27 points and rookie Joe Johnson--acquired from Boston on Wednesday--tied his career high with 23 points and set a new one with 11 rebounds.

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Milwaukee 116, Golden State 112--Ray Allen made four free throws in the final 11.1 seconds to cap a fourth-quarter comeback at Milwaukee.

“I was very surprised I made those two free throws,” said Allen, who had a bloody nose after grabbing his career-high 13th rebound. “It wouldn’t stop bleeding. I tried to suck it back in and got a headache.”

Jason Richardson scored a career-high 35 points, but it wasn’t enough as Golden State lost its fifth consecutive and 20th in its last 23.

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Seattle 99, Atlanta 96--Gary Payton and Jerome James had baskets and Desmond Mason made two free throws in the final minute as the SuperSonics won at Seattle.

Mason was fouled deliberately by Dion Glover and made his free throws with 12.2 seconds left after Atlanta’s Jason Terry made a three-pointer with 13.1 seconds left. Shareef Abdur-Rahim of the Hawks missed a three-pointer over Payton in the final seconds.