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Nets top Pistons 94-79 to knot series
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-12 15:53
Jason Kidd's series-long slump ended, and the New Jersey Nets evened things
up with the Detroit Pistons in yet another lopsided game. Kidd had 22 points, 11
assists and 10 rebounds for his seventh career postseason triple-double, scoring
nine straight third-quarter points when the Nets broke the game open for a 94-79
victory in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference semifinal Tuesday night.
Kidd was shooting an abysmal 23 percent in the first three games of the
series, all of which were decided by double-digit margins. He shot 8-for-15 in
Game 4 and got plenty of support from Kenyon Martin, Richard Jefferson, Kerry
Kittles and Lucious Harris.
The home team has won every game in this series, which is tied 2-2 and
resumes Friday night at Detroit. The Pistons dominated the first two games with
their defense, but the Nets showed in Games 3 and 4 that they can look to more
players than Detroit can for offense.
New Jersey's defense was not too shabby, either, with Martin showing the most
aggression while outplaying opposing power forward Rasheed Wallace, who
aggravated a foot injury in the first half.
Detroit was a one-man show on offense, getting 30 points from Richard
Hamilton and no more than eight from anyone else. Kittles shut down point guard
Chauncey Billups (2-for-7, six points) for the second straight game, while the
Nets' centers were able to contain Ben Wallace, holding him to 15 rebounds
following his 24-rebound performance in Game 3.
Martin had 16 points and 15 rebounds, Jefferson scored 19, Kittles added 14
and Harris 11.
Kittles scored the Nets' first six points of the second half on jump shots,
and Kidd scored the next nine beginning with a 3-pointer. That put New Jersey
ahead 64-49, and the rout was on.
Martin fired up the crowd with his defense against Mehmet Okur, coming up
with a steal leading to a breakaway layup and three-point play for Kidd, then
blocking Corliss Williamson's shot and then making a free throw to give New
Jersey its first 20-point lead, 76-56.
The fans chanted Martin's name toward the end of the third quarter, and he
exited to a standing ovation and another chant after fouling out with 3:18 left
and the Nets ahead by 16.
New Jersey had the two biggest offensive bursts of the first half, making
five of its first six shots while Detroit was going 1-for-7. After Detroit
pulled within two midway through the second quarter, the Nets had three steals
in a span of 40 seconds as part of a 9-0 run for a 33-22 lead.
Rasheed Wallace, who has been bothered by plantar fascia in his left foot,
came up limping and grimacing after scoring his first basket with 5:20 left in
the half. But he played through the pain stayed in the game, helping the Pistons
stay within seven at halftime.
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