Today in Nets history: Jason Kidd evens 2004 East Semis vs. Pistons

Jason Kidd and his New Jersey Nets teammates blew out the Detroit Pistons on May 11, 2004, after a big win in Game 3.

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:

The first three games of the 2004 Eastern Conference Semifinals between the Nets and Pistons were each decided by 15 or more points, the last of which resulted in New Jersey’s first win of the series. Game 4 was no different.

Well, the margin of victory on May 11, 2004, was once again large, but there was something different about Game 4. For one, Richard Hamilton was the only Piston who finished in double figures (30). This development also had to do with Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups suffering injuries.

Something else that stood out — rather, someone — was Jason Kidd. He took it to Detroit, finishing with a triple-double (22 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds), two steals and a blocked shot, leading the Nets to a 94-79 win (full box score).

“I called it. He hadn’t had a triple-double in the series. He was due for one,” Nets forward Richard Jefferson said after the win. “J-Kidd is not going to shy away from a challenge. Sooner or later, those shots are going to fall.”

Jefferson finished with 19 points and seven rebounds himself while Kenyon Martin logged a double-double (16 points and 15 rebounds) to help even the series at 2-2.

Kerry Kittles (14 points) and Lucious Harris (11) each finished in double figures, as well.