Nets 82
Warriors 72
People were beginning to wonder, “Where was the Jason Kidd of old?”
Criticism had mounted that the Net point guard, a perennial All-NBA defender, was getting torched by opposing guards lately.
Kidd wasn’t alone, of course, as his Net teammates had stunk it up in Washington and Milwaukee with half-hearted defensive efforts earlier this week.
So last night’s hue and cry was defense, and Kidd elevated his own game and that of his team.
He came up one assist short of a triple-double in the Nets’ 82-72 victory over the Warriors at the Meadowlands, tying a season-high with four steals.
“Jason always puts forth maximum effort, and that is what makes him the best point guard in the NBA,” coach Lawrence Frank said. “[Winning] is going to be based on what kind of effort we can put forth, specifically on the defensive end. Obviously the last two games we weren’t getting it done on the defensive end.”
Vince Carter led the way offensively with 22 points, and Richard Jefferson poured in 20 more despite being waylaid by a cold and fever during the day. Kidd scored 13 points, added 13 rebounds and dished nine assists, one of which is sure to be replayed for the rest of the season.
Kidd and Carter collaborated on a highlight-reel play at the end of the third quarter. Kidd rebounded a missed Golden State layup and tossed a halfcourt alley-oop to Carter, who slammed it home with 1:07 left in the third, putting the Nets up 63-51.
“I didn’t expect it to be thrown,” Carter said. “When I looked, he was getting ready to throw it. I had to gather myself, and go for it.”
Said Kidd: “He had the hard part: he had to catch it and find the rim. He can do that with ease.”
The Nets (12-20) held Golden State (11-22) to 35.6 percent shooting (26 of 73) and forced 18 turnovers.
“Right now we’re in the transition where we have new guys and we’re trying to figure each other out,” Kidd said. “But the one thing you can always do is play defense, no matter if you make a shot or don’t. “
Jefferson, who called in sick for the morning shoot-around, was torrid from the get-go. He buried three jumpers in the first 4:07 to get the Net offense rolling.
“That was huge for me just to have that confidence, because I felt so weak for the most part,” Jefferson said. “I sat on the couch all day in a cold sweat.”
After the game, Frank said, Jefferson was even sicker. The forward only played 35 minutes. He didn’t even shoot around right before game time, and had a box of tissues in his locker.
Carter finished with eight first-quarter points as the Nets built a 28-18 edge after one.