NBA
Nets go up 3-0, barely
By Wire services
Published April 23, 2004
NEW YORK - Kenyon Martin ended a late offensive drought with a key three-point play in the final 30 seconds, and the Nets outlasted the Knicks 81-78 Thursday night to take a 3-0 lead in their best-of-seven first-round series.
New Jersey scored six the final 41/2 minutes, and it was barely enough as New York couldn't come all the way back after trailing by as many as 14.
"Luck had nothing to do with what we've done," the Nets' Richard Jefferson said. "We played extremely hard, we played the right way."
Martin led New Jersey with 19 points and 15 rebounds, Jason Kidd had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and Jefferson had 17 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds.
"Nobody panicked. We kept our composure," Kidd said.
Stephon Marbury scored 10 of his 18 in the fourth quarter but shot 7-of-23 for the Knicks. He was fouled behind the 3-point line with three seconds left and New York down by three, but officials ruled he was in the act of passing, not shooting, and awarded him two free throws instead of three.
The atmosphere going into the game was unusually tense because of the verbal back-and-forth between Knicks forward Tim Thomas and Martin that stemmed from a flagrant foul by Jason Collins in Game 1 that sidelined Thomas.
Thomas called Martin a phony tough guy on Wednesday, and Martin took part in the Nets' morning practice wearing the back page of a newspaper with the headline "Whiny Tim" taped across his jersey. He then insulted Thomas for several minutes.
"Lock me and him in a room together and see who comes out," Martin said.
SPURS 95, GRIZZLIES 93: Tim Duncan scored 10 of his 22 in the fourth quarter, and the defending champions spoiled the first playoff game in Memphis by holding off the Grizzlies to take a 3-0 series lead. Hedo Turkoglu hit his first seven shots and finished with 18 points for San Antonio. Memphis easily had its best performance in the playoffs, but it didn't matter as it lost its seventh straight. Pau Gasol led the Grizzlies with 18 points, Jason Williams had 16, Bonzi Wells 14 and Mike Miller 12. Duncan scored with 1:37 left to put the Spurs ahead 92-91. Memphis had its chances, but Gasol bobbled the ball on a layup attempt on one possession. Williams missed a 19-footer before Bruce Bowen hit a free throw to make it 93-91 with 28 seconds left. The Grizzlies had one last chance, but Miller's 3-point attempt bounced off the back of the rim at the buzzer.
BUCKS: Rookie point guard T.J. Ford is expected to have surgery to address the bruised spinal cord that has sidelined him since February.
LAKERS: Slava Medvedenko skipped practice for the second straight day because of a strained right Achilles' tendon. He is questionable for Game 3 against the Rockets, who trail Los Angeles 2-0.
PACERS: Forward Jermaine O'Neal missed practice with a sinus infection and was probable for Game 3 of Indiana's playoff series with Boston. The Pacers lead 2-0.
WARRIORS: Chris Mullin, one of the most popular players in Golden State history, was introduced as executive vice president of basketball operations. The team has groomed the five-time All-Star for the job the past two seasons, employing him as a special assistant.
AWARD: Blazers forward Zach Randolph was named the league's most improved player. Randolph, who became a starter this season and averaged 20.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists, easily beat Cavaliers forward Carlos Boozer in voting by sports writers and broadcasters with 59 first-place votes and 379 points. Last season, his second, Randolph averaged 8.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 0.5 assists.
[Last modified April 23, 2004, 01:20:38]
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