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N.J. Nets top banged-up Knicks 99-81
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-04-21 11:02

Once again, the New Jersey Nets were the source of the hardest fouls and the best basketball. The mismatch of the Knicks-Nets series stuck to form Tuesday night, New Jersey showing its superiority over an outmatched and banged-up opponent in a 99-81 victory.


New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd (R) defends as New York Knicks guard Anfernee Hardaway as he tries to drive to the basket in the first quarter of Game 2 of the NBA playoff game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, April 20, 2004.[Reuters]
The Nets opened a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes Thursday night at New York.

The Knicks weren't as docile as in the series opener when there was no response after Tim Thomas was flagrantly fouled and injured, but they didn't put up all that much of a fight, either.

Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin led the way as the Nets took control in the second quarter. New Jersey led by as many as 22 points in defeating the Knicks for the 14th time in their last 16 meetings.

Martin led New Jersey with 22 points and 16 rebounds, and he also had the most egregious foul of the game midway through the third quarter. Although it was not called a flagrant foul, he reached around from behind Dikembe Mutombo and swiped violently at his arms, then shoved Mutombo in the back to earn a technical foul.

Richard Jefferson also had a harder-than-usual foul, chasing down Stephon Marbury and clobbering him as he went up for a layup on a fast break. Marbury jumped up quickly and appeared ready to confront Jefferson, but he thought otherwise - perhaps remembering he already had been called for a technical foul - and walked to the foul line under referee Greg Willard's escort.

New York pulled to 66-56 on a transition jumper by Kurt Thomas late in the third quarter, but Rodney Rogers answered with a 3-pointer and a layup. New Jersey then opened the fourth quarter with a 10-4 run to end all doubt.

Jefferson had 20 points, Kerry Kittles scored 16, Kidd 15 and Rogers 12.

Marbury, one of the few offense-minded players the Knicks had left as Tim Thomas (bruised back and ankle) and Allan Houston (knee soreness) sat out, led New York with 23 points. Kurt Thomas had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and Penny Hardaway, who replaced Tim Thomas in the starting lineup, added 13 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds.

The Nets didn't score their second fast-break basket until midway through the second quarter, but they finished with 20 points on the break to help overcome 25 turnovers.

Perhaps no play signified how lost the Knicks were as one less than two minutes into the second half. The Nets, as they did throughout Game 1 and much of Game 2, sent a second defender to trap Marbury at midcourt as he dribbled.

Marbury was able to get the ball to Kurt Thomas, but the Knicks' offense came to a complete stop. Martin reached in and poked the ball loose, and Kidd streaked downcourt with it before feeding a behind-the-back pass to Martin for a dunk. Thomas shoved Martin in the lower back as he scored, and the three-point play gave New Jersey its first 20-point lead 59-39.

The same trap caused an 8-second backcourt violation, and New York committed six turnovers in all during the third quarter.

The hard fouls ceased in the final 12 minutes, and Nets coach Lawrence Frank pulled Kidd and Jefferson with 4:24 remaining and New Jersey ahead by 19.

With 46 seconds left, the few fans still remaining chanted "Sweep."

 
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