Nets Extend Home Winning Streak to 11

By The Associated Press

Jason Kidd outplayed heralded rookie Chris Paul and showed he’s still one of the NBA’s premier point guards.

Kidd had 14 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, just missing his 71st career triple-double, to help the Nets beat the Hornets 99-91 on Monday night for their 11th straight home victory.

"(Paul) went up against one of the greatest point guards of all time tonight," said Richard Jefferson, who led the Nets with 26 points, "and I think it showed in some areas."

Paul had 13 assists, but shot 2-for-12 and was held to six points, 11 below his average. Still, the rookie left a lasting impression on Nets coach Lawrence Frank.

"He’s a tough-minded guy who is as good with the ball as anybody in the league," Frank said. "He has some things that just aren’t taught, and he’s going to be a great player in this league."

Kidd, meanwhile, directed a second-half surge that put the visitors away and pulled the Nets within two games of tying the franchise record for consecutive home wins. The Nets trailed by 12 at halftime, but the only suspense by the middle of the fourth quarter was whether Kidd would earn another triple-double.

In the locker room after the game, the soon-to-be 33-year-old Kidd looked every bit his age as he sat soaking both feet and with an ice pack strapped to one knee.

In other NBA games, it was: Minnesota 103, Phoenix 101; Utah 109, Chicago 107, OT; Cleveland 89, Milwaukee 86; Miami 114, Boston 98; Charlotte 119, Seattle 106; and Golden State 122, Denver 114.

Trailing 71-68 to start the final period, the Nets went to Jefferson, Kidd and Vince Carter and took control as New Orleans’ lack of a big scorer began to show. Jefferson had four points, and Kidd and Carter both hit 3-pointers in a 21-4 spurt. Center Nenad Krstic, back after missing Saturday’s win over Miami with the flu, contributed eight points in the quarter before fouling out with 4:07 left.

"We showed why road games have been tough for us throughout this year," Paul said. "That’s where we’ve got to get better. It’s a learning experience."

Timberwolves 103, Suns 101

At Phoenix, Kevin Garnett blocked Shawn Marion’s short jumper at the buzzer to preserve Minnesota’s victory.

The Suns complained vehemently that it was goaltending, but it was to no avail, and Minnesota had its first victory in five tries against Phoenix.

Garnett scored Minnesota’s last five points to finish with 19, but missed the second of two free throws with 14.6 seconds to go.

Steve Nash matched his season high with 31 points, including going 11-of-11 from the free-throw line.

Jazz 109, Bulls 107, OT

At Salt Lake City, Mehmet Okur hit a 3-pointer with 0.7 seconds left in overtime and Matt Harpring had 28 points to help Utah.

Devin Brown tipped an outlet pass which Andrei Kirilenko caught with 3 seconds left. He passed it to Keith McLeod, who found Okur for the winner.

Ben Gordon scored 35 points to lead Chicago.

Cavaliers 89, Bucks 86

At Cleveland, LeBron James scored 22 points, including a go-ahead layup in the final seconds, to lead the injury-depleted Cavaliers.

James added 12 assists and nine rebounds as he nearly completed his fourth triple-double of the season.

Bobby Simmons scored 21 points to lead Milwaukee, which has lost five of eight, including four in a row on the road.

Rockets 87, 76ers 81

At Philadelphia, Yao Ming scored 27 points and grabbed 13 rebounds, and Houston held the 76ers without a field goal for more than 15 minutes in the second half.

Only free throws kept the Sixers in this one after an incredible stretch of offensive ineptness. They didn’t score from 4:41 in the third to 1:05 in the fourth – 15:36 overall – and nearly became the second team in the last week to go without a field goal in the fourth quarter after the Kings went 0-for-20 against Utah.

Allen Iverson scored 32 points and went 20-for-24 from the line for the Sixers.

Wizards 94, Magic 82

At Washington, Gilbert Arenas had 23 points and eight assists, Antawn Jamison 21 points and 11 rebounds, and the Wizards finally returned to .500.

The Wizards took the lead early in the first quarter and didn’t trail again as they hit the break-even mark for the first time since Dec. 7.

DeShawn Stevenson scored 20 points to lead Orlando.

Heat 114, Celtics 98

At Miami, Dwyane Wade had 34 points, eight rebounds and eight assists to lead the Heat. Shaquille O’Neal added 21 points to help Miami win for the fifth time in six games.

The Heat held a 77-74 lead with a 1:13 left in the third quarter, before going on a 22-6 run during the next 7 minutes to seal the victory. O’Neal capped the run with a three-point play with 5:53 left that gave Miami a 99-80 lead.

Paul Pierce scored 31 points to lead the Celtics, who lost their sixth straight.

Bobcats 119, SuperSonics 106

At Charlotte, N.C., Raymond Felton scored 24 points and Melvin Ely added 23, both career highs, to lead the suddenly streaking Bobcats.

Charlotte led from the opening tip, built a second-half lead of 25 points, and won consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 27-28.

Ray Allen scored 31 to lead the Sonics, who have lost three straight.

Warriors 122, Nuggets 114

At Oakland, Calif., Baron Davis had 23 points and 12 assists, and Jason Richardson added 28 points for Golden State.

Derek Fisher scored 12 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter, including seven in the final 1:52, to hold off the Nuggets.

Troy Murphy also recorded a double-double with 20 points and 13 rebounds as the Warriors won their second straight at home for only the second time since a four-game streak between Nov. 26-Dec. 2.

Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points to lead the Nuggets.