EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New Jersey Nets had the perfect answer for the
Toronto Raptors' new run-and-gun game: Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.
Kidd had 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his 76th career
triple-double, Carter added 25 points and 11 rebounds, and the Nets beat
the
Raptors 102-92 on Wednesday night.
Kidd stole the show in the final quarter with eight points, four assists
and
four rebounds. The point guard had four points and three assists in a
quarter-opening, 18-8 spurt that gave New Jersey a 92-78 lead in what had
been a closely contested contest.
Richard Jefferson, the other member of the Nets' big three, added 16
points,
while Nenad Krstic and Bostjan Nachbar had 14 points apiece.
Anthony Parker, the free agent signed after playing in Israel, had 22
points
to lead the Raptors, who are trying to transform themselves into the
Phoenix
Suns of the north. T.J. Ford, who was acquired in a trade with Milwaukee,
added 19 points and seven assists. Chris Bosh had 14 points on a terrible
5-for-13 shooting night during which he was called for five fouls.
The game also marked the NBA debuts of two of the Raptors' highly
publicized
European imports, No. 1 overall draft pick Andrea Bargnani of Italy and
free
agent forward Jorge Garbajosa of Spain. Neither was very impressive.
Bargnani played just under nine foul-plagued minutes, collecting more
fouls
(3) than points (2). The 21-year-old center was 1-of-3 from the field with
a
delay-of-game warning for taking a shot after walk.
Garbajosa played 20 minutes, but only had two points on 1-of-8 shooting
and
five rebounds.
Carter helped the Nets take the lead for good late in the third quarter,
handing out three assists in a late 8-2 spurt that put New Jersey ahead
74-70.
Jefferson started the fourth quarter with a driving basket and Kidd
followed
two free throws by Parker with a pair of jump shots for an 80-72 lead.
After Toronto got within 80-76, Kidd led an 11-2 spurt by setting up two
baskets by Nachbar - one a 3-pointer_ and one by Jason Collins. Carter
added
a 3-pointer in the run and Jefferson made a free throw, also set up by a
pass from Kidd.
Notes:@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Nets F Clifford Robinson missed the game, serving part of his
five-game suspension for violating the NBA drag policy during the
playoffs.
He will also miss Friday at Miami. ... Seven Italian reporters and three
TV
crews were on hand for Bargnani's debut. The game was broadcast live to
Italy. Four Spanish reporters and two TV crews were present for
Garbajosa's
debut. ... The officiating crew called three carries in the game and one
double dribble. ... Nets first-round draft pick Marcus Williams had seven
points.
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My only concern is should I hide my true identity? A costume maybe?
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