| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
|
 GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets had one of
those game that made Boston Celtics coach Rick Pitino think his
team was trying out to be a patsy for Harlem Globetrotters.
The Nets made 17 of 24 shots from the field and scored a
team-record 46 points in the first quarter en route to a 131-113
laugher over the Celtics on Tuesday night.
|  | | Johnny Newman came off the bench to score seven points for the Nets. |
Stephon Marbury and Keith Van Horn had 30 points apiece as New
Jersey opened a 23-point lead after 12 minutes and then never
looked back in beating Boston for the first time in four games. The
points were an NBA high for a first quarter this season.
"We didn't have the ability to stop them," Pitino said. "We
got too far down too early and they were playing too well. They
were brilliant on offense and our defense was atrocious.
"Our guys looked like they were auditioning to play the
Washington Generals in the next Harlem Globetrotters' movie, and
our guys would all get starring roles."
Kendall Gill, who added 19 points, said the Nets wanted this game after blowing leads to Boston in their last two meetings.
"It was embarrassing losing these last two games to these
guys," Gill said. "We just didn't want to lose again."
Kerry Kittles had 16 as New Jersey won its second straight and handed Boston its 19th loss in 23 road games. Marbury made 10 of 12
shots from the field.
Boston was led by Antoine Walker, who had 27 points before being
ejected for two technicals in the fourth quarter.
The Nets' final point total and their 58 percent shooting from
the field (47 of 81) were season highs; the total was the most
given up by Boston this season.
New Jersey opened with Van Horn missing two shots right
underneath the basket before seldom-scoring center Jim McIlvaine followed the second miss with a layup.
After that, New Jersey didn't miss much, making 10 of its next
11 shots, including seven straight, to open a 24-12 lead. Marbury
hit three jumpers in that spurt, while Van Horn picked up nine
points, mostly inside.
Marbury had 14 in the quarter and Van Horn and Gill added 11
apiece.
"We put up a stand early in the game, letting them know we're
not here to mess around. We need a W and we're coming to take it,"
Nets backup forward Scott Burrell said.
The Nets, who have given away the lead in each of their last
nine losses, built a 29-point margin in the second quarter and then
seemed to tease the crowd, letting Boston cut the gap a couple of
times: 17 at the start of the third quarter and 15 midway through
the fourth quarter.
However, each time the Nets got a couple of showtime dunks from
Van Horn, Kittles and even a windmill by Marbury off a steal.
"The last two wins, we won the way we're supposed to,"
McIlvaine said. "We got the early lead and held on to it by making
the plays and playing good defense."
Game notes
The only disappointment for the crowd was the Gheorghe
Muresan never made it off the Nets bench despite calls for an
appearance. ... Walker got his technicals with 5:02 and 2:46 left
in the game; both came after he was hacked on a layup and didn't
get a call. ... Pitino yelled at referee Eddie F. Rush, "He was
killed." ... Former Seton Hall star Adrian Griffin had seven points in his return to New Jersey. ... The Nets previous record
for first-quarter scoring was 43, done twice. The previous NBA high
for points in the first quarter was 45 by Denver against Milwaukee
on Feb. 2. Van Horn's 30 points matched his season high..
| |
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Boston Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Toronto 109
Atlanta 88
New Jersey 131
Boston 113
San Antonio 79
Seattle 77
Houston 91
Cleveland 83
Phoenix 94
Vancouver 76
Sacramento 119
Chicago 80
|
