Suns, Crowd Give Kidd Rude Reception

Jason Kidd’s shooting was as icy as his reception from a large share of the crowd in his first game at Phoenix as a member of the New Jersey Nets.

Kidd was only four for 18 from the field and the Suns rallied to hand the Nets their fourth consecutive road loss, 89-87, Wednesday night.

Keith Van Horn, a 79% free-throw shooter, had a chance to tie the score but missed the first of two free throws with 0.4 seconds to go.

“I thought it was good,” Van Horn said. “I was kind of shocked that it didn’t go in.”

He had to purposely miss the second, but failed to hit the rim to end any hope of a tip to tie it.

Stephon Marbury, the player the Suns got in the trade that sent Kidd to New Jersey, scored 20.

“This is going to be an ongoing thing,” Marbury said. “This is a rivalry now.”

Kidd, booed loudly each time he touched the ball, had 10 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. He made a three-point basket on his first shot, but was two for 15 after the first quarter and one for 10 in the second half.

“I wanted him to shoot,” Marbury said, “because I know that’s not how he plays.”

Kidd shrugged off the rude reception. The boos stemmed from Kidd’s comments critical of Sun owner Jerry Colangelo and former coach Scott Skiles. Kidd was pressed on the subject of Colangelo and his son, team President Bryan Colangelo.

“I don’t work for the Colangelos,” he said. “If I did, I’d probably want to quit.”

*

Portland 85, Minnesota 78--Scottie Pippen scored eight points in a span of 37 seconds late in the game at Portland, Ore., and the Trail Blazers extended their winning streak to 11.

The Trail Blazers shot only 37%, but Pippen compensated by making a 22-foot jump shot, a three-point shot and two free throws for a 79-73 lead with 1:29 left.

Rasheed Wallace had 28 points and 15 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who are 12-1 since the All-Star break.

*

Philadelphia 85, Cleveland 76--Allen Iverson broke the 40-point barrier for the third time in four games, scoring 46 for the 76ers at Philadelphia.

The defending Eastern Conference champions have won four of their last five games and have defeated the Cavaliers 12 consecutive times.

It was the eighth time this season that Iverson scored 40 points or more. He was 15 for 30 from the field.

*Miami 92, Chicago 87--Rod Strickland scored a season-high 23 points and the Heat held off the Bulls at Chicago for its sixth victory in seven games.

Jalen Rose led Chicago with 23 points, and Travis Best tied his season-high with 18 points.

The Heat led, 63-47, late in the third quarter after a 20-3 run but let the Bulls back in the game.

*

Boston 130, Orlando 110--Paul Pierce scored 22 points and Antoine Walker had 16 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists at Boston, and the Celtics had their highest point total this season.

Nine Celtics scored in double figures, helping Boston top its previous best by 20 points and move 21/2 games in front of Orlando in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Celtics also took the edge in a potential tiebreaker with a 3-1 head-to-head record.

Orlando Coach Doc Rivers was fined $7,500 by the league for failing to quickly leave the court after an ejection during Orlando’s 111-98 loss Tuesday and for criticizing game officials.