Nets Break New Ground

Just like the team they defeated, the New Jersey Nets are headed to new territory--their first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 26 NBA seasons.

Jason Kidd had 23 points and 13 assists and made several plays in the fourth quarter that swung the momentum New Jersey’s way as the Nets defeated the Hornets, 103-95, Wednesday at East Rutherford, N.J., ending the Hornets’ 14-year existence in Charlotte, N.C. The team moves to New Orleans next season.

New Jersey held Charlotte to one field goal in the final 7:37. In winning this best-of-seven series, 4-1, the Nets gained each of their victories with tenacious fourth-quarter defense. This foul-marred game was no different.

The game changed in the Nets’ favor after Baron Davis fouled out with 5:36 left.

The Nets, who stunned the NBA by posting the best record in the conference (56-26) only a season after going 26-56, will play the Boston Celtics in the conference final starting Sunday.

“I don’t think we knew we were going to be this good at this point,” Kidd said.

With the officials calling 22 fouls in the final quarter and 77 in the game, the Hornets managed to stay alive in the fourth quarter as Lee Nailon and Jamaal Magliore alternated trips to the foul line.

“There are so many nights when something like this felt like it was on the other side of the mountain. I’m going to enjoy this for a long, long time,” Net guard Lucious Harris said.

Davis and David Wesley had 13 points apiece for Charlotte, which played the entire series without Jamal Mashburn (vertigo).

Portland Trail Blazer guard Damon Stoudamire was booked and released from jail early Wednesday on a felony charge of marijuana possession.

Stoudamire posted the required 10% of his $50,000 bail and went home about 2 a.m. Stoudamire pleaded innocent Tuesday to the charge of possession of a controlled substance, and a trial date of Oct. 1 was set by Circuit Judge John Lowe.

Stoudamire’s attorney plans to challenge the legality of the search of Stoudamire’s home by police responding to a burglar alarm.

Former Memphis Grizzly general manager Billy Knight, 49, was hired by the Atlanta Hawks for the new job of director of basketball operations.... Ray Clay, the Chicago Bulls’ longtime public-address announcer, will be replaced next season by Steve Scott, a local radio fixture. A Chicago Sun-Times report contends Clay’s dismissal was prompted by his confiding to one of the newspaper’s columnists a desire to give former Bull Michael Jordan a rousing introduction when he returned to the United Center as a Washington Wizard.