Much like the NBA Finals, the New Jersey Nets had no answer for Tim Duncan–even with Jason Kidd’s triple-double.
Duncan had a season-high 31 points and 12 rebounds and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs defeated the Nets 85-71 Wednesday night in the first meeting between the teams since the championship round.
Kidd, who spurned a free-agent offer from the Spurs in the off-season, had 14 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.
Shot clocks malfunction
Wednesday’s Cleveland-Miami game was delayed for nine minutes after shot clocks malfunctioned. Part of the third period was played without a shot clock.
RESULTS, WEDNESDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Bulls 89 at Boston 82
Complete coverage. Pages 1, 4
Memphis 107 at Orlando 97
Memphis withstood a season-high 36 points from Tracy McGrady and handed Orlando its seventh straight loss. The Grizzlies closed out the game with a 15-0 run.
San Antonio 85 at New Jersey 71
The Spurs took control with a 21-5 run for a 49-33 halftime lead. The Nets’ Kenyon Martin had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his first game since spraining his left ankle Oct. 31.
Cleveland 83 at Miami 88
Eddie Jones scored 25 points, helping Miami become the final team to win its first game. LeBron James had 18 points for the Cavs, who have lost 26 straight road games.
Utah 88 at New Orleans 96
Baron Davis had 23 points and nine assists, and New Orleans won for the first time in three games. Matt Harpring scored 20 points to lead Utah, which dropped to 0-4 on the road.
Seattle 104 at Milwaukee 99
Rashard Lewis, the NBA’s second-leading scorer, had 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting as Seattle improved to 3-0 on the road. Vladimir Radmanovic added 22 points.
Atlanta 99 at Phoenix 94
Dion Glover scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to help the Hawks to their first win in Phoenix since Nov. 15, 1991. Atlanta had lost 16 of the last 22 games against the Suns.
Detroit 85 at Golden St. 87
Calbert Cheaney (season-high 24 points) hit 2 big shots in OT, handing Pistons their first OT loss in more than 2 years. Chauncy Billups had 19 points and 12 assists for Detroit.
Toronto 79 at L.A. Lakers 94
Shaquille O’Neal had 23 points and 14 rebounds as the Lakers dropped the Raptors to 0-4 on the road. Kobe Bryant added 19 points for L.A., which ended its two-game losing streak. Vince Carter (23 points), was only Toronto starter in double figures.
