Nets Use Run In Second Half To Down Jazz
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Vince Carter scored 21 points to lead the Nets over the Utah Jazz 91-83 last night.
Nenad Krstic added 18 points on 7- for-9 shooting for New Jersey, which shot 49% (33-for-67) from the field. Richard Jefferson missed the second triple-double of his career by one rebound with 17 points, nine rebounds, and 12 assists.
New Jersey began the fourth quarter leading by 15 before Utah closed to within nine points at 80-71 on a jumper by Jarron Collins, the twin brother of Nets center Jason Collins. On the Nets’ next possession, Carter drove the lane and kicked the ball out to Krstic, who sank a jumper to extend the lead to 11.
After a 3-pointer by Utah’s Deron Williams brought the Jazz to within eight at 84-76, Carter again fed Krstic, this time in the lane. Krstic’s layup gave the Nets an 86-76 lead with 4:16 left and Utah never threatened after that.
Andrei Kirilenko led Utah with 18 points. The Jazz shot 38% from the field (31-for-82).
The Nets led 49-48 with 8:32 left in the third quarter before going on a 23-9 run over the rest of the quarter, highlighted by 3-pointers by Carter and Jason Kidd.
Zoran Planinic put an exclamation point on the run when, after two free throws by Utah’s Keith McLeod, he heaved the ball from just past his own free throw line at the buzzer and watched as it went through for a 3-pointer and a 72-57 Nets lead.
Neither team led by more than seven points in a back-and-forth first half. Krstic scored 10 points in the first quarter for the Nets, who led 32-25 early in the second quarter before Utah scored 12 of the next 16 points to take a 37-36 lead. The game stayed close until the end of the half when Matt Harpring scored in the lane on a feed from Kirilenko to give the Jazz a 43-42 lead at intermission.
Earlier in the day, New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank was fined $25,000 by the NBA for verbally abusing a referee and refusing to leave the court after the Nets’ 90-89 loss at Miami Monday night.
Frank was mum before the game about the NBA’s decision to fine him. “That’s yesterday’s news. We turn the page,” he said.
The game was the ninth in which Jason and Jarron Collins, the NBA’s only twin brothers, faced each other. They split the first eight.
Kidd, who finished with 11 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, played in his 300th game for the Nets.
– Associated Press
