With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.
For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.
Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:
With the San Antonio Spurs up 2-1 in the 2003 NBA Finals, the New Jersey Nets couldn’t let Game 4 slip away. But a quiet third quarter on June 11 allowed the Spurs to take a 57-56 lead heading into the final quarter after New Jersey had built a 45-34 at the half.
Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson combined for 15 of the Nets’ final 21 points, which proved to be just enough for the Nets to come out on top, 77-76 (full box score). Martin also grabbed five boards in the fourth and got right in the face of Manu Ginobli to disrupt his last-ditch effort to send the game to overtime.
The Nets combined for 13 blocked shots in the win (Aaron Williams four, Dikembe Mumbo three, Martin three, Jefferson two, Jason Collines one).
Martin led the Nets with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Jefferson also had a double-double (18 points and 10 rebounds).
“This team definitely has perseverance,” Kerry Kittles said after the win. “We’ve shown that … We’ve been tested in the playoffs and every time this team is really resilient … and doing whatever it takes to win.”
Kidd scored 16 points, dished out nine assists and grabbed eight rebounds. Williams also pitched in eight points and seven rebounds off the bench.