Nets Continue Their Winning Ways

The New Jersey Nets are getting better and better under new Coach Lawrence Frank.

Jason Kidd had 18 points -- including a three-point shot that broke the 100-point mark at the end of the third quarter -- 13 assists and six rebounds, leading the Nets to a 120-99 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

The victory was the Nets’ seventh in a row, and their sixth in a row since Frank replaced Byron Scott less than two weeks ago for the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions.

The six wins to start a coaching career are three shy of the NBA record shared by Kurt Rambis in 1998-99 with the Lakers and Buddy Jeannette with the Baltimore Bullets in 1947.

This one was easy, as the Magic played without All-Star guard Tracy McGrady (back spasms) for the second straight game.

Atlanta 100, Boston 96 -- The Hawks, who beat Minnesota on Wednesday night, won consecutive games for the first time this season, getting 23 points from Shareef Adbur-Rahim and 22 from Stephen Jackson at Boston.

It was the Celtics’ sixth consecutive loss and their fifth in a row under interim Coach John Carroll, who took over on Jan. 27 when Jim O’Brien resigned.

Minnesota 103, Cleveland 92 -- Kevin Garnett had 35 points and 12 rebounds, and Latrell Sprewell had 24 points and held LeBron James to 14 to help the Timberwolves win their 14th in a row at home. They are an NBA-best 26-6 since Dec. 1.

New Orleans 92, Detroit 81 -- Jamal Mashburn scored 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter at New Orleans to help the Hornets end a four-game losing streak.

After going four for 17 from the field through three quarters, Mashburn made a three-pointer to end a 10-0 Piston run. He made two more shots and five free throws as New Orleans handed the Pistons their second straight loss.

Memphis 105, Milwaukee 85 -- The Grizzlies tied a franchise record for victories by routing the Bucks at Memphis, Tenn. The win was their third straight and matched their 28 victories from last season. The Bucks lost their third in a row and sixth consecutive road game.

Indiana 83, Toronto 77 -- Jamaal Tinsley scored five of the Pacers’ last seven points at Toronto to help the Eastern Conference leaders win for the fourth time in five games.

Layups by Donyell Marshall and Vince Carter cut Indiana’s lead to two with 2:43 left, but Tinsley’s three-pointer gave Indiana a 79-74 lead with 2:23 left. The Raptors missed their next three shots before Tinsley made two free throws to make it a seven-point lead with 23 seconds left.

Houston 82, Chicago 80 -- Jim Jackson made a 22-foot jumper at the buzzer to give the Rockets the victory at Houston. The Bulls opened the fourth quarter with a 22-5 run and took their first lead since the first quarter, 70-69, with 4:42 left. A three-point play by Kelvin Cato with 1:25 left gave the Rockets an 80-77 lead.

Portland 87, Utah 73 -- The win was the Trail Blazers’ sixth in their last seven road games and moved them into a tie with the Jazz for 10th in the Western Conference. The Jazz have lost four in a row to fall two games below .500 for the first time this season.

Seattle 107, Phoenix 105 -- Rashard Lewis made a layup for the game-winner with two seconds left at Phoenix. But the SuperSonics may have lost guard Ray Allen, who was knocked to the floor with 2:07 left when he ran into Jake Voskuhl’s screen. He was helped from the floor and went to the locker room, where X-rays were negative.

San Antonio 102, Sacramento 94 -- Tony Parker kept the Spurs in front during the first half, scoring 17 of his 20 points. Tim Duncan took over the after intermission, scoring 20 of his 28 points as the Spurs built a double-digit lead and held on in the closing minutes to hand the Kings a rare home loss.

The Kings, 22-4 at home, were bothered by the NBA’s best defensive team and shot only 37% (30 of 81). The loss ended their five-game winning streak.

Golden State 96, Denver 87 -- Speedy Claxton scored 17 of his career-high 25 points in the fourth quarter and the short-handed Warriors won their fifth consecutive home game and ended the Nuggets’ three-game winning streak.

Claxton, who played 41 minutes, went 13 for 13 at the free-throw line in the quarter while playing in place of injured point guard Nick Van Exel.