Beating Hornets Is Kidd Stuff

Jason Kidd won the point-guard showdown with Baron Davis somewhat by default.

With the game on the line, Kidd stepped up for the New Jersey Nets and Davis was not much of a factor for the Charlotte Hornets.

Kidd made a go-ahead jumper and scored six of the Nets’ final eight points to lead New Jersey to a 99-93 victory over the undermanned Hornets in the opening game of the Eastern Conference best-of-seven semifinal series on Sunday.

“I had to be aggressive,” Kidd said after finishing with 21 points to lead seven Nets in double figures. “I was riding my teammates for a while. They got us that far, so I knew I had to do something.

“I should have gotten a box of popcorn because I was watching everyone else play for so long. I was very lucky that those shots went down.”

While Kidd was taking the big shots, Davis was passing the ball to open teammates during crunch time, and they weren’t making any.

David Wesley and Stacey Augmon each threw up an airball with the Hornets trailing, 95-91, in the final two minutes.

“You have to make plays,” Davis said, who scored 23 points but did not take a shot in the final 5:45.

“I am a little disappointed in myself in that I didn’t make as many plays as I should have on the offensive end. On the other hand, we got some open shots that we usually make and missed them.”

Elden Campbell had 22 points for Charlotte, which played without Jamal Mashburn (viral illness) and Jamaal Magliore (suspension).

Campbell tied the score, 91-91, making one of two free throws with 3:04 left. After that it was all Kidd, who surprisingly only had one rebound and two assists in the final three quarters.

Immediately after a timeout, Kidd dribbled around a screen by Aaron Williams and made a jumper to give the Nets a 93-91 lead with 2:53 left. Campbell missed a jumper and Kidd made a jumper in the lane for a 95-91 lead with 2:21 to play.

“Jason was being Jason,” Net Coach Byron Scott said. “When the game is on the line and the score is tied, I am calling his number.”