Nets’ Streak Hits 14 Before Big Showdown

Lawrence Frank and the New Jersey Nets had to work harder than expected for an NBA-best 14th straight victory.

A bigger challenge will come tonight when Frank and the Nets travel to Minnesota to play the Midwest Division-leading Timberwolves.

“They’re the best team in the league right now, period,” Net forward Richard Jefferson said. “Have we had success against them the past three years? Yeah.”

The Nets set up the big matchup by getting 25 points and 15 rebounds from Kenyon Martin in holding off the undermanned Toronto Raptors, 86-74, on Tuesday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

“I haven’t even thought about Minnesota,” said Frank, whose 13-0 coaching start is an NBA record as well as a record for major pro sports in North America. “This game is on the schedule and we are prepared to win.”

Joe Morgan of the Boston Red Sox won 12 straight in 1988 after taking over for John McNamara, and Jim Price won that many with the National League team -- known both as the Gothams and Giants, according to the Elias Sports Bureau -- in New York in 1884.

Toronto, playing without starters Jalen Rose, Vince Carter and Alvin Williams, cut a 19-point lead late in the third quarter to 73-68 before the Nets regained control.

Roger Mason Jr. led the Raptors with 18 points in his first NBA start,

San Antonio 86, Houston 77 -- Tim Duncan had 27 points as the Spurs took advantage of an 18-3 run spanning the third and fourth quarters in their first home game this month because of an annual rodeo.

Yao Ming, coming off a career-high 41 points Sunday, led the Rockets with 20 points.

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Minnesota 108, Milwaukee 102 -- Former Buck Sam Cassell scored 29 points in his return to Milwaukee. Michael Redd and Keith Van Horn had 25 points apiece for the Bucks, whose rookie guard, T.J. Ford, was taken for X-rays on his neck after falling following a foul by Mark Madsen.

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Sacramento 107, New York 99 -- Mike Bibby scored 28 points and rookie Darius Songaila had career highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Kings’ NBA-record 29th straight home victory over an Eastern Conference team. Tim Thomas had a season-high 33 points for New York.

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Portland 94, Orlando 91 -- Zach Randolph had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Derek Anderson scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and overtime at Orlando, Fla., as the Trail Blazers ran their record to 12-4 since falling seven games below .500 a month ago.

Tracy McGrady led the Magic with 31 points but made only 11 of 32 shots, including two of 14 three-pointers.

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Indiana 107, Golden State 96 -- Jermaine O’Neal scored a season-high 34 points at Indianapolis. Erick Dampier led Golden State with 22 points and 12 rebounds.

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Atlanta 86, Philadelphia 75 -- Stephen Jackson scored 24 points for the host Hawks.

Eric Snow had 17 points for the 76ers, who trailed by 24 in the third quarter. Philadelphia, without Allen Iverson because of a sore shoulder, lost second-leading scorer Glenn Robinson for the second half because of a sore elbow.

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Utah 99, Seattle 86 -- Raja Bell scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Andrei Kirilenko had 27 points and 10 rebounds to help the Jazz end a four-game home losing streak. Ray Allen had 26 points for Seattle.