After Rout of Wizards, Nets Can Make Playoffs With Win

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jason Kidd had a season-high 35 points, eight assists, and eight rebounds, and the Nets kept control of their own play off destiny with a 109-101 victory over the Washington Wizards last night.The win was the 14th in 18 games for the Nets, leaving them tied with Cleveland, which defeated Boston 100-86, for the eighth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.The Nets, who beat Cleveland in the season series to earn the tiebreaker, can clinch the NBA’s final playoff berth in one of two ways: by beating the Celtics in Boston tonight, or having Cavaliers lose at Toronto.New Jersey could earn the no. 7 seed with a win at Boston and a loss by Philadelphia at home against Atlanta.The eighth seed will face Miami in the opening round of the playoffs this weekend. The seventh seed will get the defending NBA champion Detroit Pistons. And with the way Kidd and company are playing after a season of injuries and transition, the Nets could be a tough opponent.Vince Carter added 26 points and nine assists and Brian Scalabrine had 13 points for New Jersey, which shot nearly 49% in beating Washington for the first time in four games this season.Larry Hughes had 18 points for the Wizards, who had their four-game winning streak snapped. Kwame Brown, Antawn Jamison, and Etan Thomas added 14 apiece. All-Star Gilbert Arenas was a non-factor with Kidd defending him, scoring eight points on 2-of-7 shooting.The Nets’ win over the Wizards was a carbon copy of Sunday night’s surprisingly easy victory over the Philadelphia 76ers with Kidd pushing the offense and getting Scalabrine and Carter involved.The difference against the Wizards was Kidd’s decision to do everything in leading the Nets to a 32-13 first-quarter lead. He scored 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting and added two assists, three steals and four rebounds.The Wizards’ 13 first-quarter points were their second lowest of the season. They had 11 twice, the last against Indiana on April 3.Kidd, who was 13-of-26 from the field, also did a number on Arenas, holding him scoreless and forcing three turnovers in the opening 12 minutes. On the offensive end, Kidd posted him low on the Nets’ first possession and got a goaltending call, setting the stage for a series of jumpers and shots in the lane.New Jersey led by 21 at the half and increased the margin to 28 in the third quarter before the Wizards made a run with a lineup that included Thomas, Brown, and Steve Blake.A jumper by Juan Dixon cut the Nets’ lead to 103-94 with 2:49 to play, but Kidd drove past Blake for a layup and the Nets were never threatened again, leaving game no. 82 to decide its playoff fate.Kidd’s previous high this season was 29 against Indiana last week.

After Rout of Wizards, Nets Can Make Playoffs With Win

After Rout of Wizards, Nets Can Make Playoffs With Win

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