Carter Leads Nets to Third Straight Victory
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Vince Carter scored 26 points, Richard Jefferson had 22, and the Nets held the Portland Trail Blazers to a team record-low five points in the fourth quarter of a 78-65 victory.
Nenad Krstic added 20 points as the Nets extended their winning streak to three. They did it without a single point from Jason Kidd, who did have six rebounds and seven assists.
The 65 points equaled the thirdfewest allowed by the Nets and marked the second dismal effort in two nights for Portland.The Trail Blazers lost 95-66 at Chicago on Tuesday night.
Zach Randolph had 24 points for the Trail Blazers, who dropped their eighth straight on the road. Reserve Darius Miles added 14 points and Steve Blake had 12 points and 10 assists.
Krstic scored the first four points of the fourth quarter and Lamond Murray followed with a 3-pointer as the Nets took a 64-60 lead.
The Blazers’ first point of the final quarter came 4:24 in when Randolph made 1-of-2 free throws. Portland missed its first six shots from the field as the Nets methodically built their lead. Portland finished the final quarter 1-for-13 from the field and was outscored 21-5.
Early in the third quarter, Carter hit a 3-pointer from the right corner to give the Nets a 47-45 lead.The basket ignited an 11-2 New Jersey run as Krstic and Jefferson each chipped in four points.The Nets could have broke open the game, but shot only 7-for-19 in the quarter.
Portland rallied to regain the lead as Miles scored on a layup and a jumper in the final 1:44 of the quarter to give the Blazers a 60–57 lead.
Portland led 24-23 after one period as Martell Webster scored nine points. Portland shot 10-of-17 from the field, a sharp improvement over the 35% the Trail Blazers shot for the entire game in Tuesday’s loss in Chicago. Portland did not score more than 19 points in any quarter in that defeat.
Points were scarce for both teams in the second quarter as the Nets outscored the Blazers 19-16 to take a 42-40 lead at the half. New Jersey closed out the period on a 10-2 run, with Krstic providing five points.
