ducks
01-24-2004, 12:46 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- The new owner of the New Jersey Nets might be having second thoughts.
Hours after the sale to Brooklyn developer Bruce Ratner became official Friday, the slumping Nets matched the second-worst scoring effort in their history, losing 85-64 to the Miami Heat.
The defeat was the fifth in a row for the Atlantic Division leaders, their longest losing streak since April 2001.
``We're struggling,'' guard Jason Kidd said. ``But we're still one of the good teams in the league.''
Miami 12th man Wang Zhi-Zhi outscored Kidd, and the Nets shot just 29 percent. Their 21 field goals were a franchise low.
``From the start of the game we weren't in it mentally,'' coach Byron Scott said. ``We played bad from start to finish.''
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The victory margin was the most lopsided this season for the Heat, who had lost their past five games against the Nets.
New Jersey's defeat came hours after the sale of the franchise to Ratner, who wants to move them across the Hudson River. NBA owners must approve the deal.
With starting center Brian Grant slowed by a knee bruise, the 7-foot-1 Wang came off the bench in the first half and finished with 11 points in 11 minutes, matching his point total for the season.
``The crowd enjoyed it. I enjoyed it,'' Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``I don't think he's going to get a point a minute every night, but hopefully he can help us.''
Kidd shot 4-for-19 and narrowly missed his seventh triple-double of the season. He had nine points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Lamar Odom tied a career high with 18 rebounds and added 12 points and six assists. Eddie Jones led seven Heat players in double figures with 18 points but said defense was the difference.
``The Nets are a great transition team, and we did a great job of not letting them get easy baskets,'' Jones said.
AP - Jan 23, 10:22 pm EST
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Despite the Nets' recent slump and 21-20 record, they still lead the division at the halfway point in their season.
``We had bigger plans than being 21-20,'' Scott said. ``We need to figure out if we want to be a .500 team going into the playoffs, or if we want to be one of the elite teams in the league.''
Miami is in the playoff race despite a record of 17-26.
``The division isn't real strong,'' Van Gundy said. ``A lot of teams are struggling.''
The Nets' offensive problems started early when they failed to score on eight consecutive possessions. Wang gave the Heat a spark when he entered late in the first quarter, scoring seven points, including a 3-pointer, and stealing the ball from Kidd as Miami took a 34-20 lead.
New Jersey shot 24 percent in the first half, including Kidd's 1-for-10, and trailed 41-30 at halftime.
The Nets cut the deficit to 58-54 early in the fourth quarter but got no closer. A three-point play by Odom put Miami ahead 64-54, and two free throws by Udonis Haslem capped an 8-0 run to make it 75-58.
Kenyon Martin scored 16 points to lead New Jersey.
Notes
Grant returned to the starting lineup after missing one game with a bruised knee. He failed to score in 21 minutes. ... The Nets came in ranked last in the league in rebounding. ... The Heat improved to 12-12 against Eastern Conference teams. ... Haslem ranks second among NBA rookies inrebounding.
Hours after the sale to Brooklyn developer Bruce Ratner became official Friday, the slumping Nets matched the second-worst scoring effort in their history, losing 85-64 to the Miami Heat.
The defeat was the fifth in a row for the Atlantic Division leaders, their longest losing streak since April 2001.
``We're struggling,'' guard Jason Kidd said. ``But we're still one of the good teams in the league.''
Miami 12th man Wang Zhi-Zhi outscored Kidd, and the Nets shot just 29 percent. Their 21 field goals were a franchise low.
``From the start of the game we weren't in it mentally,'' coach Byron Scott said. ``We played bad from start to finish.''
ADVERTISEMENT
The victory margin was the most lopsided this season for the Heat, who had lost their past five games against the Nets.
New Jersey's defeat came hours after the sale of the franchise to Ratner, who wants to move them across the Hudson River. NBA owners must approve the deal.
With starting center Brian Grant slowed by a knee bruise, the 7-foot-1 Wang came off the bench in the first half and finished with 11 points in 11 minutes, matching his point total for the season.
``The crowd enjoyed it. I enjoyed it,'' Heat coach Stan Van Gundy said. ``I don't think he's going to get a point a minute every night, but hopefully he can help us.''
Kidd shot 4-for-19 and narrowly missed his seventh triple-double of the season. He had nine points, nine rebounds and eight assists.
Lamar Odom tied a career high with 18 rebounds and added 12 points and six assists. Eddie Jones led seven Heat players in double figures with 18 points but said defense was the difference.
``The Nets are a great transition team, and we did a great job of not letting them get easy baskets,'' Jones said.
AP - Jan 23, 10:22 pm EST
More Photos
Despite the Nets' recent slump and 21-20 record, they still lead the division at the halfway point in their season.
``We had bigger plans than being 21-20,'' Scott said. ``We need to figure out if we want to be a .500 team going into the playoffs, or if we want to be one of the elite teams in the league.''
Miami is in the playoff race despite a record of 17-26.
``The division isn't real strong,'' Van Gundy said. ``A lot of teams are struggling.''
The Nets' offensive problems started early when they failed to score on eight consecutive possessions. Wang gave the Heat a spark when he entered late in the first quarter, scoring seven points, including a 3-pointer, and stealing the ball from Kidd as Miami took a 34-20 lead.
New Jersey shot 24 percent in the first half, including Kidd's 1-for-10, and trailed 41-30 at halftime.
The Nets cut the deficit to 58-54 early in the fourth quarter but got no closer. A three-point play by Odom put Miami ahead 64-54, and two free throws by Udonis Haslem capped an 8-0 run to make it 75-58.
Kenyon Martin scored 16 points to lead New Jersey.
Notes
Grant returned to the starting lineup after missing one game with a bruised knee. He failed to score in 21 minutes. ... The Nets came in ranked last in the league in rebounding. ... The Heat improved to 12-12 against Eastern Conference teams. ... Haslem ranks second among NBA rookies inrebounding.