Marbury Leads Knicks Comeback Over Nets in Preseason Game

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The New York Sun

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Stephon Marbury scored 14 points and Tim Thomas added 12 points, leading the Knicks to an 86-79 victory over the Nets in a presea son game last night.


The Knicks, who trailed most of the game, took command early in the fourth quarter, going on a 13-3 run and taking a 78-70 lead with 2:52 remaining. Michael Sweetney scored nine of his 11 points from the line in the run.


The Nets closed to 78-73 with 1:47 remaining, but Sweetney countered with a free throw to extend the lead to six points. Jerome Williams made five free throws in the final minute to help seal New York’s fourth win in seven preseason games.


Ron Mercer scored 30 points, and Richard Jefferson added 11 points for the Nets, who have lost four of seven preseason games.


Mercer, signed in the offseason, scored 18 points in the first half, helping the Nets to a 47-45 lead. He scored eight of the Nets’ first 12 points in the second half as New Jersey extended its lead to 59-48 with 6:22 left in the third quarter.


Before the game, Jacque Vaughn, another free agent signed by the Nets, told the sparse crowd, “On behalf of the Nets, I’d like to thank you for welcoming all the newcomers. We promise to continue the tradition of winning Nets basketball you’ve come to enjoy over the years.”


The Nets, under new ownership headed by developer Bruce Ratner, dealt All-Star forward Kenyon Martin and guard Kerry Kittles, and released veteran guard Lucious Harris.


The Nets played last night without All-Star Jason Kidd, who is coming off off-season knee surgery, and reserve centers Aaron Williams (foot) and Alonzo Mourning (recovering from kidney transplant surgery).


The Knicks were without Allan Houston, who is nursing foot and knee problems.


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