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With Jason Kidd
playing his best basketball of the season, the New Jersey Nets are finally resembling
the team that went to the NBA Finals the last two seasons.
Kidd and the Nets return to Continental Airlines Arena seeking to match a season-high
four-game winning streak in a matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
After posting consecutive triple-doubles to help him earn NBA player of the week honors at the end of December, Kidd has maintained his strong play to lead New Jersey to three straight victories over Golden State, Cleveland and New York.
He is averaging 28 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds over the last three games and has hit 30-of-64 shots from the field and 16-of-17 free-throw attempts.
The 10th-year point guard took control down the stretch in a 95-85 win over the Knicks on Sunday, scoring 19 of his season-high 35 points in the fourth quarter.
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``When he brings it like that in the heart of the game, there's nothing many
people can do about it,'' Nets forward Brian Scalabrine said. ``He can dominate
a game at any time. He has that special gift.''
Kidd engineered a late 17-2 run to send the Nets to their 12th win in 15 games since they fell to 7-11 on Dec. 3.
``I feel fresh,'' Kidd said. ``I'm starting to gain some confidence in shooting the ball. Being close to 35-40 games and feeling good, hopefully that'll continue from here on out.''
New Jersey will be playing a rare home game in January after improving to 9-7 on the road with Sunday's win. The Nets, 10-7 at the Meadowlands, play only four of their next 13 games at home.
The Clippers won for the second time in three games with a 101-98 victory over the injury-depleted Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday.
Elton Brand had 30 points, 15 rebounds, six assists and five blocked shots to take advantage of a Lakers frontcourt that was missing center Shaquille O'Neal (strained calf) and forward Karl Malone (sprained knee).
``It definitely feels good to get that win, now it's time to move on,'' Brand said. ``We definitely have bragging rights, we own the city tonight -- at least until we play them again.
``We wanted it at the end.''
Brand missed 13 games earlier this season because of a stress fracture in his right foot, but is averaging 19.1 points and a team-high 11.9 rebounds in 17 games since returning to the lineup.
The Clippers weren't at full strength either, as starting guard Marko Jaric (sprained left foot) and reserve swingman Bobby Simmons (sprained right wrist) missed the game with injuries sustained Saturday in a 116-109 loss to Sacramento.
Doug Overton started in place of Jaric and had season highs of 14 points and seven rebounds to go with six assists.
The Clippers begin a three-game eastern road trip against the Nets that also takes them to Philadelphia and Toronto.
STANDINGS (through Jan. 4): Clippers - 5th place, 8 1/2 GB, Pacific Division. Nets - 1st place (tied), Atlantic Division.
PROBABLE STARTERS: Clippers - F Corey Maggette, F Brand, C Chris Kaman, G Quentin Richardson, G Overton. Nets - F Richard Jefferson, F Kenyon Martin, C Jason Collins, G Kidd, G Kerry Kittles.
TEAM LEADERS: Clippers - Maggette, 20.4 ppg; Brand, 11.9 rpg; Jaric, 4.1 apg. Nets - Martin, 17.6 ppg and 9.7 rpg; Kidd, 9.6 apg.
SEASON SERIES: Nets, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Nov. 27; Nets, 102-96. At Los Angeles, Kidd had 18 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who never looked back after holding the Clippers to 3-for-22 shooting during a 26-12 second-quarter run.
ROAD/HOME RECORDS: Clippers - 3-8 on the road; Nets - 10-7 at home.
INJURIES: Clippers - F Melvin Ely (flu); C Josh Moore (back); C Olden Polynice (neck); G Jaric (foot); G-F Simmons (wrist). Nets - G Zoran Planinic (neck); C Aaron Williams (groin); F Tamar Slay (groin).