Vince Carter and Jason Kidd had no problem handling the old triangle-and-two defense that helped Cleveland wipe out a 21-point deficit.
The New Jersey Nets’ two leaders just needed some fourth-quarter help on Sunday, and Travis Best finally gave it to them–after missing his first six shots.
Carter had 34 points and Kidd added 14 points and 12 assists as the Nets held off LeBron James (28 points) and the Cavaliers 104-98.
“It was the weirdest thing. I hadn’t seen the triangle-and-two since high school,” said Carter, who hit 10 of 18 shots in notching his 15th straight 20-point game. “It got us out of whack a bit, but we kept fighting and stuck it out.”
Best’s only basket was a backbreaking three-pointer with 1 minute 13 seconds left, giving the Nets a 100-93 lead. Kidd added four free throws in the final 45.9 seconds.
Best said it’s easy to stop shooting after you’ve missed five or six in a row, “but then you look into the eyes of your teammates and they give you the ball without hesitation.”
Layups
Jackie Butler, a 6-foot-10-inch center from the Great Lakes Storm of the CBA, signed with the Knicks for the rest of the season. The 19-year-old was not selected as an early entry candidate in the 2004 draft. . . . Mike D’Antoni was ejected with 19.9 seconds to play–the first time he had been tossed as Suns’ coach–after he got into a shouting match with Paul Pierce when the Boston star was at the foul line. . . . The NBA is expected to announce approval of the sale of the Cavs to Detroit businessman Dan Gilbert early this week. Gilbert agreed to purchase 90 percent of the franchise for $375 million from owner Gordon Gund.
SUNDAY’S GAMES
RESULTS, SYNOPSIS
L.A. Lakers 102 at Toronto 108
Donyell Marshall had 19 pts, 9 rebs for Raptors, unbeaten since All-Star break. Marshall made 5 of Toronto’s 13 3s. Chucky Atkins’ 17 2nd-half pts helped Lakers trim deficit as big as 15.
Cleveland 98 at New Jersey 104
Down by 21 in 2nd quarter and 20 midway through 3rd, Cavs cut the Nets’ lead to 8 entering 4th. Jeff McInnis scored 23 pts, Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 20 pts, 8 rebounds for Cleveland.
Sacramento 110 at Washington 108
Kings’ Cuttino Mobley hit 2 FTs with :01.5 left. Wizards’ Gilbert Arenas scored 43, but his foul sent Mobley to line. Arenas, incredulous after call, threw ball against backboard at other end.
Miami 112 at Orlando 103
Dwyane Wade scored 28 as Miami beat Magic for 2nd straight day. Heat won both without C Shaquille O’Neal, who sat 4th straight game with sprained left knee. Grant Hill’s 34 led Magic.
Seattle 73 at Milwaukee 99
Bucks’ Michael Redd scored 35 and played tough `D’ on Ray Allen (16 pts, 4 of 16), who was in Milwaukee for 1st time since being traded to Seattle in ’03. Sonics shot season-low 29.4%.
Utah 99 at Houston 92
Jazz’s Matt Harpring scored 28, Raja Bell 21 to beat Houston, which led by as many as 10 pts in 1st half and dropped 3rd in row. Harpring had 8 pts in last 4 minutes to ensure Utah win.
Denver 94 at New Orleans 93
Carmelo Anthony scored 17 of his 31 in 4th as Denver overcame 11-pt deficit in final 10:00. Anthony 14 of 14 from line. Earl Boykins scored 16, including 2 FTs with :04.6 left to ice it.
Boston 120 at Phoenix 113
Antoine Walker scored 33 (12 of 32 FGs) in OT win for Celtics, 1st Eastern Conf. team to win in Phoenix this season. Delonte West’s (19 pts) 3 put Boston up for good 111-109 with 1:56 left.
Minnesota 91 at Portland 83
Latrell Sprewell’s 27 pts helped Minn. halt 5-game road skid. T’wolves swept Portland in 4-game series for 1st time since 1989-90. Nick Van Exel scored 26 for Blazers, who lost 6th of 8.
Detroit 94 at Golden State 88
Tayshaun Prince (23 pts) forced turnover with :20 left when Warriors had chance to tie. Det. ended 4-game skid in Oakland dating to Dec. ’99. Baron Davis 10 pts, 8 asts in Warriors debut.
Atlanta 104 at L.A. Clippers 111
Corey Maggette scored 25 and Bobby Simmons added 24 for Clippers, who have won 13 of last 16 at home, including 6 in row. Tyronn Lue’s 24 pts led Atlanta, 0-5 on 7-game trip.
