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Robinson's follow shot helps Nets edge Knicks

Jan 20, 2007 - 5:46 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The oldest man on the court, Cliff Robinson made the New Jersey Nets feel young and giddy.

The 40-year-old Robinson scored on a follow shot with 2.8 seconds left as the Nets posted a 101-100 victory over the rival New York Knicks.

Robinson had 11 points and six rebounds and made the crucial play after the Knicks roared back from a double-digit fourth-quarter deficit to take the lead.

"You never say age with Cliff," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "He may hit you. Cliff still thinks he's 30 and he was great."

David Lee gave New York a 100-99 lead with 9.7 seconds left on a putback of Jamal Crawford's missed jumper.

The Nets came down and cleared out for Vince Carter, whose drive and wild layup attempt met iron. But Robinson tipped in the ball over Knicks center Eddy Curry with just under three seconds remaining.

"I was actually waiting for Vince to pass it to me in the corner," Robinson said. "But he got a good look and he wasn't able to finish it. Those guys turned and all collapsed to the basket, and I was able to sneak in there and get a hand on the ball."

"We got them to take a tough shot, but we just couldn't secure the rebound," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said.

A 70-foot desperation shot by Stephon Marbury at the buzzer bounced off the back of the rim, handing the Nets their fifth straight and 10th win in 12 games at New York.

"It is a tough loss," Marbury said. "Anytime you lose like this, it is tough."

"For some odd reason, we've had a little bit of success here," said Jason Kidd, who led the Nets with 23 points. "We wanted to come out and work hard, and we got very fortunate that we didn't let this good opportunity go to waste tonight."

The Knicks had a chance at victory because of a furious fourth-quarter rally led by Marbury, who scored 12 of his 23 points in the period.

New Jersey appeared in control when Kidd converted a three-point play for a 95-83 lead with 3:43 remaining. But New York went on a 15-4 run over the next 3:13, capped by two free throws by Marbury to cut the lead to one with 30 seconds left.

"There are ebbs and flows in every game," Frank said. "You have to give New York credit. We were able to develop a cushion and give ourselves a little leeway."

Richard Jefferson scored 21 points and Kidd grabbed seven rebounds and handed out nine assists for New Jersey, which shot 50 percent (41-of-82) and has won three straight.

"We were very confident tonight and we were leading the entire game by double digits," Jefferson said. "You put yourself in the position to weather those storms of fourth-quarter comebacks."

Vince Carter had 16 points and Eddie House 12, including 10 in the second quarter to give the Nets a 54-48 halftime lead.

Quentin Richardson contributed 24 points and nine rebounds and Lee added 23 and seven for New York, which has lost three of its last four to fall three games behind New Jersey in the Atlantic Division standings.

"As we continue to move down the road, these are just tough lessons to learn," Thomas said. "However, you got to learn. You got to swallow your bad medicine."

"A loss is a loss," Curry said. "Moral victories don't really go far in the NBA. This is a game that I feel we could have won, we should have won. It slipped away from us."