Cueing it up

Nets 98, Nuggets 97
Game 63 File
The Nets get rolling after a Kenyon Martin second quarter technical and take a 14 point fourth quarter lead before the Nuggets insert Earl "Mini Me" Boykins and mount a furious comeback. Luckily, the Nets are able to survive two free throw misses by the returning Jason Kidd as the Nets survive and score a win.
• Box Score

Nets Record: 39 - 24
Home Record: 22 - 9
Away Record: 17 - 15
Division Record: 14 - 2
Conf. Record: 27 - 10
Other Game Reviews

Nets High Men:
• Points: Kenyon Martin, 28.
• Assists: Jason Kidd, 13.
• Rebounds: Kenyon Martin, 9.
• Steals: Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles each had 2.
• Turnovers: Jason Kidd, 6.
• Blocks: Kenyon Martin, 2.
• FG Percentage: Jason Collins, 100% (4 - 4).

Nets Team Stats:
• FG Percentage: 56.7%
• FT Percentage: 78.3%
• Rebounds: 30
• Rebound Differential: -6
• Turnovers: 20
• Opposing Team's Turnovers: 12
• Bench points: 25
• Bench points Differential: +12
• Steals: 7
• Blocks: 3
• Points in the Paint: 54
• Double-Doubles: 0
• Triple-Doubles: 0

The Kidd Effect:
• Nets Players in Double Digit Scoring: 3
• Nets Fast Break Points: 13
• Kidd's FG Percentage: 37.5% (3 - 8).
• Scoring Differential Kidd in the game: -5
• Scoring Differential Kidd out (Harris at PG): +6
• Double-Doubles this Season: 24
• Triple Doubles this Season: 8
• Career Triple Doubles: 58

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Game 63: Nets 98, Nuggets 97 - March 10, 2004
Fast Forward
Riding high behind the efforts of forwards Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson, abusing the Nuggets inside and shooting 57% from the field, and generally making life tough for the Nuggets, the Nets had a 14 point lead and the game seemingly in hand with 6:24 to play in the fourth. Then, little Earl Boykins pushed the fast forward button, ripping off seven straight points in a minute and this game suddenly went blurry. The Nuggets kept coming, going on a 20 - 8 run to cut the Nets' lead down to two points before Martin was able to sink two free throws (after a wrestling match with Nene) and New Jersey survived two free throw misses by Jason Kidd and a buzzer-beating, meaningless three to score a big home court win.

With Kidd back at the controls, the Nets started off sloppy (8 first quarter turnovers, 20 for the game) before adjusting the controls behind Jefferson (13 points) to take the lead in the second quarter. But the Nets' really took off after Martin was T'ed up for jawing at the refs (he claimed he was talking to his teammates). Using that as motivation, the Nets quickly changed that channel and took their 5 point lead to 11 at the break behind Martin (8 points, with two emphatic dunks), then maintained that lead through the third with 12 mroe points from KMart.

That set the stage for the fourth quarter, where the Nets scored almost at will until Boykins entered the fray. The Nets relaxed, put down the remote, and almost paid the price to a young, somewhat desperate Nugget squad.

Do Not Adjust Your Television
Cue It Up - This game was all front line for the Nets, as Martin (28 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks), Jefferson (26 points), Aaron Williams (15 points), Jason Collins (9 points, 4 of 4 from the floor) and Brian Scalabrine (7 points) combined to shoot 33 - 47 (that's 70%, folks), score 54 points in the paint, and dominate the Nuggets inside. Martin and Jefferson were making them from outside as well, long jumpers, tough fadeaways, you name it. Of course, they also played some good defense on Carmelo Anthony (24 points, but 10 - 25 shooting). Jefferson even got into it with Anthony, drawing double technicals underneath the basket. Williams was great in the first half as well, with 12 points.
On Rewind - The guards, on the other hand, were almost invisible, save Kidd's 13 assists and his two missed free throws late. It was obviously good to have Kidd back, and those 13 assists point to the Nets returning to their offensive form, but Kidd also looked rusty, and perhaps a step or two slow, ringing up 6 turnovers (worse, Kidd made several unforced errors). Kerry Kittles was invisible, trying to stop Andre Miller for scoring early (and failing as Miller had 18 of his 22 points in the first half) and missing 7 of his 8 shots. The guards combined for only 12 of the Nets' 98 points. How they won this game with so little production from them shows how dominant the Nets were inside all game.
Test Pattern - No PT for either Rodney Rogers or Zoran Planinic tonight. Rogers had a great game against the Lakers on Sunday, so this must have been a matchup thing (or something Lawrence Frank saw in last week's Net/Nuggets game). Planinic now has sat for two consecutive games, as Harris has been getting the backup PG minutes. There must be a method to Frank's madness, though, as the Nets are now 17 - 4 under Frank and yet to lose two straight games.
Wound Tightly - The Nets survive and win a close game - closer than necessary, sure, but a win against a Western Conference foe. The Nets record is now 2- 5 in games decided by 3 points or less, with improvement needed in that area come playoff time. Of course, the Nets won 13 of their 14 games in their 14 game winning streak, so that can sometimes be a misleading stat. Just don't expect the Nets to blow out opponents come playoff time - that's where the defense and rebounding come in. The Nets gave up 13 offensive rebounds tonight - not a good sign as they lost the battle of the boards 36 - 30.
Repeats - More flotsam - the Nets shot 57% but turned the ball over 20 times. The Nets were outscored on the break 14 - 13, but Kidd had 13 assists. Denver obviously needs to play more defense if they want to ride Anthony's brilliance come playoff time (and Anthony needs to focus for the entire game, not float through it on the defensive end).

Straight To Video
This game has some highlight reel plays, but it won't exactly make it to the front of the "must see" games of the season. Thanks to Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson for tuning in and recording another home court win, made sweeter by defeating a Western Conference foe (ok, so it's not the Kings, Mavs, Spurs or Lakers, but it's a start).
- Joe

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