Spurs Overwhelm Nets in NBA Final Rematch

Coach Byron Scott accused the New Jersey Nets of playing scared Wednesday night after the two-time defending Eastern Conference champions lost to Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs 85-71 in their first meeting since the NBA Finals.

Elsewhere in the NBA, it was: the Los Angeles Lakers 94, Toronto 79; Chicago 89, Boston 82; Memphis 107, Orlando 97; Miami 88, Cleveland 83; New Orleans 96, Utah 89; Seattle 104, Milwaukee 99; Atlanta 99, Phoenix 94; and Golden State 87, Detroit 85, in overtime.

“It’s the first time we played that way, just scared to play,” Scott said after the Nets lost for the fifth time in eight games.

“I don’t know if it’s because we didn’t get off to a good start playing a team that has all its weapons. They want to get back on track, and it looked like we were scared to play the way we’re capable of playing.”

With Duncan and Tony Parker back in the lineup, the Spurs are starting to look like the team that beat the New Jersey Nets and won the NBA title last season.

Duncan had a season-high 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Parker added 17 points, six rebounds and four assists, making the Spurs 2-0 since they returned from ankle injuries.

“It’s good to have those guys out there because everyone else can figure out the system a lot easier with them on the floor,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.

Much like in the playoffs, the Nets had no answer for either Duncan or Parker despite a triple-double by Jason Kidd, who had 14 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds.

Kidd, who spurned a free agent offer from the Spurs in the offseason, deferred to Scott on whether the Nets played scared.

“He has a better view than I do,” Kidd said after his 52nd career triple-double. “If that’s what he sees, if that’s the case, we’ve got to find some way to get the enjoyment back into the game and have some fun and not make it such a struggle.”

Nothing was a struggle for Duncan. He hit 12 of 19 shots from the field and blocked three shots, including two by Kidd in the third quarter.

“He’s a pretty smooth character,” Popovich said of Duncan. “The game is really easy for him. He really understands what’s going on. He is enjoying his teammates. He is a great player.”

Manu Ginobili had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, whose 18-point lead slipped to three before they pulled away.

Kenyon Martin added 14 points and 10 rebounds in his first game since spraining his left ankle Oct. 31.

The Nets couldn’t overcome long stretches of cold shooting – another reminder of what happened in the finals when New Jersey allowed San Antonio to go on a series-deciding 19-0 run in Game 6.

A 3-for-14 slump at the end of the second quarter came during a 21-5 spurt that gave the Spurs a 49-33 halftime lead.

Parker started the run with four straight points, Duncan added six and Malik Rose had five, including a tip just before the halftime buzzer.

The small crowd of 13,286 was starting to grumble when the game turned on a spectacular block by Martin early in the third quarter.

Both Duncan and Popovich felt the officials missed a goaltending call.

“It sparked them and they scored about 90 in a row,” Popovich said. “It was like we weren’t there anymore. It was 5-on-0.”

New Jersey closed the quarter with a 17-4 run to pull to 63-56. The deficit was reduced to three in the fourth quarter, the last time at 67-64 on a jumper by Martin in the lane.

Ginobili had a three-point play and a layup to spark a 16-5 spurt that included a pair of 3-pointers from the left corner by Bruce Bowen and one by Parker.

Lakers 94, Raptors 79

At Los Angeles, Shaquille O’Neal had 23 points and 14 rebounds, Karl Malone had 17 and Gary Payton 16 points in a 94-79 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Kobe Bryant scored 19 points, going 8-of-10 on free throws, as one of four Lakers starters in double figures. He will leave the Lakers on Thursday to attend his first hearing before the judge that will preside over his sexual assault trial in Colorado.

Vince Carter led the Raptors with 23 points, their only starter in double figures. Guard Milt Palacio scored two points starting in place of Alvin Williams.

The Lakers were back in Los Angeles after going 2-2 on a four-game trip to Milwaukee, San Antonio, New Orleans and Memphis, with losses in the final two games.

Heavy rain in Los Angeles, accompanied by rare lightning and thunder, flooded freeways, snarled traffic and delayed O’Neal and Payton until 30 minutes before tipoff.

Payton said it took him 2 1/2 hours to drive to the game from his San Fernando Valley home.

“I didn’t think the floods had hit yet,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said, smiling. “I know the apocalypse is around the corner, but maybe not tonight.”

The Lakers led by 10 points at halftime. Malone, Payton, Devean George and O’Neal scored on the Lakers’ first four possessions of the third quarter while denying Toronto on its first four trips down the floor.

Morris Peterson hit a 3-pointer that got Toronto to 86-77 with four minutes left. But Bryant hit two free throws, and Malone and Payton scored to push the Lakers’ lead to 92-77.

Bulls 89, Celtics 82

At Boston, Jalen Rose scored 20 points and Eddy Curry added 16 points and 14 rebounds as Chicago got its third road victory to match its total for all of last season.

Mike James had 18 points and Paul Pierce 14 for the Celtics, who lost for the first time in three games.

Heat 88, Cavaliers 83

At Miami, Eddie Jones scored 25 points and Lamar Odom added 14 points and 10 assists, helping the Heat become the final NBA team to break into the victory column.

LeBron James had 18 points on 6-of-15 shooting for Cleveland, which lost its 26th straight road game since February and failed in its bid for the franchise’s first three-game winning streak since April 2002.

Grizzlies 107, Magic 97

At Orlando, Fla., Memphis withstood a season-high 36 points from Tracy McGrady and handed Orlando its seventh consecutive loss.

Pau Gasol and James Posey had 28 and 24 points, respectively, in leading the Grizzlies to their second road win of the season.

SuperSonics 104, Bucks 99

At Milwaukee, Rashard Lewis had 31 points and nine rebounds, Vladimir Radmanovic added 22 points and eight rebounds, and Ronald Murray followed up his career-high 29-point effort Tuesday with 20 points.

Hornets 96, Jazz 88

At New Orleans, Baron Davis had 23 points and nine assists, and New Orleans won for the first time in three games. David Wesley scored 17 and reserve Steve Smith added 15 points in 20 minutes, hitting all seven of his free throws.

Hawks 99, Suns 94

Dion Glover scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to help Atlanta to its first victory in Phoenix in nearly 12 years.

Pistons 87, Warriors 85, OT

At Oakland, Calif., Calbert Cheaney hit two big shots in overtime while scoring a season-high 24 points for Golden State.

Detroit lost in overtime for the first time in more than two years.