Streaking Nets Win 14th Straight

The New Jersey Nets have the longest winning streak in the NBA this season.

Coach Lawrence Frank is breaking records that lasted for 120 years.

The Nets won their 14th straight game Tuesday night, holding off the visiting Toronto Raptors 86-74 behind Kenyon Martin’s 25 points and 15 rebounds.

“They made it a game,” Martin said. “They didn’t quit playing. We had to buckle back down and get some stops.”

It was the 13th victory in a row for Frank, the boy-wonder coach who replaced Byron Scott on Jan. 26. That’s the best start to a coaching or managing career in a major sport in North America.

Joe Morgan of the Boston Red Sox won 12 straight in 1988 after taking over for John McNamara, and Jim Price won that many with the National League team in New York in 1884. The team was known as both the Gothams and the Giants that season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Frank’s next game won’t be easy to win. The Nets visit Kevin Garnett and the Midwest Division-leading Timberwolves on Wednesday night.

“I haven’t even thought about Minnesota,” Frank said. “We will not use any crutches. This game is on the schedule and we are prepared to win.”

In other games, it was: Portland 94, Orlando 91 in overtime; Indiana 107, Golden State 96; Atlanta 86, Philadelphia 75; Minnesota 108, Milwaukee 102; San Antonio 86, Houston 77; Dallas 116, the Los Angeles Clippers 91; Utah 99, Seattle 86; and Sacramento 107, New York 99.

Only four of the Nets’ victories in their franchise-record streak have come against teams with winning records, so the trip to Minnesota should be a telling test.

“Everybody’s talking like it’s Game 7,” said Jason Kidd, who had 17 points and seven assists.

“We’re getting ahead of ourselves,” Kidd added. “It’s not the playoffs. Minnesota played tonight, we played tonight. Everybody seems to want to make this into a bigger game.”

Toronto played without Jalen Rose, Vince Carter and Alvin Williams in losing its season-high sixth straight.

Timberwolves 108, Bucks 102

Sam Cassell scored 29 points in his return to Milwaukee, and the Timberwolves beat the Bucks for the 10th straight time to become the first NBA team with 20 road wins.

Latrell Sprewell, a Milwaukee native, added 23 points, and Kevin Garnett had his NBA-leading 51st double-double with 16 points and 18 rebounds. He tied his own club record with his 19th consecutive double-double.

Bucks rookie T.J. Ford was taken off on a stretcher after a hard fall during the fourth quarter. X-rays revealed a sprained neck. Ford was hospitalized overnight as a precaution and will miss Wednesday night’s game at Boston.

Pacers 107, Warriors 96

At Indianapolis, Jermaine O’Neal scored a season-high 34 points, and Jamaal Tinsley added 13 points and 11 assists to help the Pacers win their third in a row.

Trail Blazers 94, Magic 91, OT

At Orlando, Fla., Zach Randolph had 24 points and 12 rebounds, and Derek Anderson scored eight of his 18 points in overtime to lead Portland.

Damon Stoudamire had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Trail Blazers, who won their season-best fifth straight to move above .500 (29-28) for the first time since Dec. 29. Theo Ratliff tied a franchise record with nine blocks.

Tracy McGrady led the Magic with 31 points despite shooting 11-for-32, including 2-of-14 on 3-pointers.

Hawks 86, 76ers 75

At Atlanta, Stephen Jackson’s 24 points and 11 rebounds helped the Hawks end a three-game skid.

The 76ers, losers of three straight and four of five, were without Allen Iverson and Kenny Thomas because of injuries. Glenn Robinson missed the second half with a sore elbow.

Spurs 86, Rockets 77

At San Antonio, Tim Duncan scored 27 points, Manu Ginobili added 21 and the Spurs won for the eighth time in nine games.

It was San Antonio’s first home game this month. The team went on a seven-game road trip in early February and won six times. Duncan also had 13 rebounds and five blocks.

Mavericks 116, Clippers 91

At Dallas, Antoine Walker scored 21 points, Michael Finley added 20 and the Mavericks beat Los Angeles for the first time in three tries this season. The Clippers matched their most lopsided loss of the season.

Jazz 99, SuperSonics 86

At Salt Lake City, Raja Bell scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and Andrei Kirilenko had 27 points and 10 rebounds for Utah.

Carlos Arroyo also scored 23 with nine rebounds and five assists for the Jazz, who had lost four straight at home.

The Sonics were outscored 26-10 in the final quarter and lost for the eighth straight time at Utah. Seattle coach Nate McMillan was ejected early in the fourth.

Kings 107, Knicks 99

At Sacramento, Calif., Mike Bibby scored 28 points and rookie Darius Songaila had career highs of 17 points and 13 rebounds in the Kings’ seventh victory in eight games.

Peja Stojakovic scored 27 points to help Sacramento improve the NBA’s best record to 41-14 despite playing without Brad Miller, Chris Webber and Bobby Jackson.

Tim Thomas scored a season-high 33 points for the Knicks, who lost for the fifth time in six games following a 9-3 start under coach Lenny Wilkens.