EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin got running in the first quarter, so the New Jersey Nets didn’t have to wait until the fourth to win the game.
Dominant at both ends, Kidd scored a career playoff-high 34 points and Martin had 19 as the New Jersey Nets finally hit their uptempo stride and moved within one victory of an Eastern Conference finals sweep by beating the Detroit Pistons 97-85 Thursday night.
Martin scored 14 points in the first quarter, when New Jersey took the lead for good. Kidd scored 15 of New Jersey’s 19 points and had two steals during a 91/2-minute stretch starting late in the second quarter, leading his team to a 32-4 advantage in fast-break points.
Kidd made 11 of 21 shots, 11 of 13 free throws and had 12 rebounds and six assists. He shot free throws to chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” in the fourth quarter.
Richard Hamilton scored 21 points – but only six in the second half – to lead the Pistons.
Desperate to find a winning formula, coach Rick Carlisle benched struggling starters Chauncey Billups and Tayshaun Prince for much of the second half, but there was no solution for 18 turnovers, a 50-39 rebounding deficit.
and a Nets defense that seemed to have its hands everywhere.
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AP-ES-05-22-03 2317EDT
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