Nets take out Celtics

By Tom Canavan - Ap Sports Writer     Jan 22, 2005

? Despite losing several key players in the offseason and getting off to a horrendous start, the New Jersey Nets are still in the hunt for a fourth straight Atlantic Division title.

Jason Kidd hit a crucial 3-point shot just before the shot clock expired with 57.9 seconds to play and the Nets posted a season-high third straight win with a 104-98 decision over the Boston Celtics on Friday night.

The win moved New Jersey (15-24) within 3 1/2 games of first-place Philadelphia (18-20) in the wide-open and woeful Atlantic Division, where every team is under .500.

“We’re going to keep fighting,” said Kidd, who flirted with his 62nd career triple-double. “We now have found ourselves right there in the race in the Atlantic, no matter what our record is. Somebody has to win it, and we’re thinking why not us?”

A division title didn’t seem likely after the Nets said good bye to free-agent Kenyon Martin and traded Kerry Kittles in the offseason, remaking a team that had been to the NBA Finals two of the last three seasons.

New Jersey faces a challenge in the next week, playing a five-game West Coast road trip. They are 6-15 away from home.

“We have to start somewhere and we are starting to play as a team,” said Kidd, who finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists. “It doesn’t matter who puts the ball in the basket. We are defending and having fun. That’s what as a team you have to do.”

Kidd hit the biggest shot of the game on a broken play with New Jersey clinging to a 95-91 lead. Vince Carter, who had 25 points despite playing in foul trouble, drove to the basket and found no room. Turning, he saw Kidd as time ran down on the shot clock.

“I wish we could say it was a designed play,” Kidd said. “Vince penetrated and I was sitting there wide open. I just saw there was 1 second. I had no chance to think. I just caught it and shot it. Maybe I need to do that more often.”

Carter said, “When J.K. let it go, it looked good, it looked real good.”

Travis Best came off the bench to score a season-high 24, his most productive game since scoring 27 against Boston on Dec. 8, 2000. Rookie Nenad Krstic added 13 points and a career-best tying 12 rebounds.

Paul Pierce had 22 points to lead the Celtics (18-21), but only six came in the second half.

“To win this division we’re going to have to win some road games,” said Pierce after Boston dropped to 5-15 away from home. “We’re playing well at home, but we have to get our act together on the road.”

Gary Payton added 16 points, including a 3-pointer with 41.9 seconds to play that got Boston within 98-94 just seconds after Kidd hit his clutch 3.

After Jason Collins hit two free throws with 41.4 seconds to go, Ricky Davis sank a 15-footer to get the Celtics within 100-96.

Kidd gave Boston a little life by missing a free throw and Davis got the Celtics within 101-98 on a 10-footer with 26.1 seconds left.

Kidd then hit two free throws and Davis, Pierce and Walter McCarty missed 3-point attempts sealing the Nets’ win.

The game had no flow as the officiating crew of Bennett Salvatore, Violet Palmer and Tony Brothers called 60 personal fouls and technicals fouls on Nets coach Lawrence Frank, Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Carter. There was also a defensive three-seconds call against New Jersey and more than a few quizzical looks from both teams after some whistles.

Carter and Kidd, who both came close to having triple-doubles on Wednesday in a win over Milwaukee, helped give the Nets the lead for good in the third quarter.

Carter, who was limited to 16 minutes in the first half, scored 12 points in the opening 7 minutes of the third quarter to give New Jersey a 66-60 lead.

Kidd then took over scoring four points the rest of the quarter and setting up Brian Scalabrine for six straight points.

The Nets led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, but Boston made a run with Al Jefferson scoring six points and Raef LaFrentz adding a 3-pointer in a 9-1 run.

PREV POST

X-Factor Game 9: Kansas 105, Villanova 94

NEXT POST

7465Nets take out Celtics