Jason Kidd returned to the New Jersey lineup and
assisted on Richard Jefferson's game winning
basket with 7.1 seconds left as the Nets beat the Toronto
Raptors 88-86 in NBA play Monday in East Rutherford.
The Nets won their second straight game and improved to just 5-12 at
the expense of the Raptors (7-13), who have lost 13 of their last 17
games.
Kidd missed the first 16 games of the season and returned with 10
points, six rebounds and three assists in just 21 minutes as the Nets
restricted his playing time. But his return lifted the spirits of the
Nets, who struggled without him and are in last place in the Atlantic
Division.
The Raptors had a chance to tie the game after Jefferson's basket, but
Vince Carter missed a diving
lay-up at the buzzer that would have sent the game into
overtime.
Jefferson had 26 points, nine rebounds and eight assists to lead the
Nets as New Jersey out-rebounded Toronto 61-36. Eric Williams added 12
points for the Nets and Alonzo Mourning had 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Carter led Toronto with 22 points and Chris Bosh added 15.
In other NBA games played Monday, Antoine Walker had 22 points
and 12 rebounds to lead the Atlanta Hawks past the Philadelphia 76ers
96-92.
Al Harrington added 21 points for the Hawks, who snapped a nine-game
losing streak. Predrag Drobnjak added 20 points and nine rebounds.
Allen Iverson led the Sixers with 36 points and Kyle Korver added 14.
In Dallas, Chauncey Billups scored 24 points and eight assists as the
Detroit Pistons beat the Mavericks 101-85. Richard Hamilton had 19 points
for Detroit and Ben Wallace hauled down 15 rebounds and had eight points.
Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points and eight rebounds for Dallas, while Erick
Dampier added 11 points and 14 rebounds.
In Chicago, Tony Parker had 17 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to
a 91-75 win over the Bulls. Tim Duncan had 12 points and 11 rebounds for
the Spurs, who are an NBA best 16-3 with the win.
Tyson Chandler had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulls, who
shot less than 40 percent.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-07 15:12
