Harris Bails Out Nets

The vocal adulation for Jason Kidd was timid in comparison to the chants for New Jersey’s masked man.

Lucious Harris shot 10 for 11 from the field and scored 24 points Tuesday night, and the New Jersey Nets overcame a subpar performance from Kidd to defeat the Charlotte Hornets, 102-88, for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.

“This is the best game I’ve ever had,” said Harris, a nine-year veteran appearing in only his fifth playoff game.

Harris scored six consecutive points after the Hornets pulled within three points with five minutes left, leading to a chant of “Lu-cious Har-ris” that was many times louder than the defiant “M-V-P” chants Kidd heard before player introductions.

New Jersey pulled away from there, closing with a 16-5 run.

“For so many years they were booing around here. To have them chanting your name is a big turnaround,” said Harris, who has been playing with a see-through mask for five weeks after fracturing a facial bone.

The Nets, who have said all season that no one gives them the proper respect, were feeling even more snubbed before the game after Kidd apparently failed to win the most-valuable-player award and Byron Scott lost out to Rick Carlisle for coach of the year. San Antonio’s Tim Duncan is rumored to have been selected MVP, although an official announcement won’t be made until Thursday.

They didn’t get much respect from the referees who put their big men in foul trouble early, but they probably earned it from the Hornets by playing a scrappier game.

The Nets had 14 offensive rebounds and 20 second-chance points in the first half; none of either in the second half.

Keith Van Horn had 20 points and 11 rebounds. Harris reached 20 points for the fourth time this season and for the first time in 41 games.

Kidd, who made only five of 18 shots, missed nine in a row at one point and finished with 11 points, six assists and three rebounds, but his teammates picked up the slack.

“That shows what we’ve become. Everybody on every given night can be chanted,” Kidd said.

Charlotte’s Baron Davis had 21 points, seven assists and five rebounds, but went scoreless for more than 15 minutes in the second half before making a meaningless free throw with 35 seconds left. It was the only free throw he made in six tries.

David Wesley scored 17 points and Elden Campbell had 15 for the Hornets, who trailed, 2-0, in the second round last year before rallying to win their next three games against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“The 17 layups we gave up--that concerns me more than the atmosphere we’ll have at home [Thursday],” Charlotte Coach Paul Silas said, referring to the Hornets’ first home game since an NBA committee unanimously approved their proposed move to New Orleans.

Harris’ short jumper from a corner gave New Jersey a 92-83 lead and Charlotte never threatened again.

“I just felt good from the first shot,” Harris said. “It was a tough shot and I made it. It’s a good feeling when you come off the bench and get that first shot.”