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Nets' Kidd, Frank lose cool as Spurs win 12th straight

Mar 11, 2007 - 6:28 AM SAN ANTONIO (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd and Lawrence Frank couldn't keep their cool. Tony Parker and the San Antonio Spurs capitalized.

Parker had 19 points and six assists and Tim Duncan added 17 and 13 rebounds as the Spurs took advantage of the frustrated New Jersey Nets in a 93-77 victory, extending their season-high winning streak to 12 games.

Brent Barry had 11 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including 3-of-5 on 3-pointers, for San Antonio, which has defeated New Jersey eight consecutive times.

"It was a sloppy game both ways but we managed to play enough defense and score enough to win," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "Jason wasn't out there, and they were probably a little tired from (Friday). We caught a break. It counted as a win."

The Nets have struggled recently, suffering through a five-game losing streak, including losses in the first four games of a six-game road trip. New Jersey has been demolished in its trip through Texas, losing to league-leading Dallas on Tuesday and dropping games to Houston and the Spurs on back-to-back nights.

"For us, we have 19 games remaining," Frank said. "That defense has to be the staple. We tasted it. We sniffed it a little tonight, but it won't mean anything unless we can continue to understand that's got to be who we are."

On Saturday, the Nets' frustration was evident, especially in the third quarter. Kidd thought he was fouled on a drive to the basket and, after a lengthy argument, was assessed consecutive technicals and ejected with 4:17 left. Frank was booted during the break between the third and fourth quarters for arguing a separate call.

"The second one I was a little bit baffled I was thrown out," Frank said. "I didn't cuss or anything like that. I was a little bit surprised to get thrown out. It was just a general comment made, and he took exception with it. Especially, with Jason out, the last thing I wanted to do was leave the team."

Reserve forward Mikki Moore thought the situation could have been avoided.

"We're grown men, everybody's (a grown man) out there, including the referees, so you shouldn't be caught up in the emotions," Moore said. "It's an emotional games, yes, but if you've been in the game long enough, you should be able to control your emotions.

"I don't think (Kidd) should have been thrown out because he's a vet in the game. I've seen other guys walk up and say some crazy stuff to referees and (Kidd) didn't. I was standing right there. He was just talking about the play."

San Antonio, on the other hand, did not miss a beat. Parker shot 8-of-14 from the field and Duncan was 8-of-13 for the Spurs, who shot 47 percent (34-of-73) from the floor and 7-of-16 from the arc.

"It's (technicals) just an unfortunate way for the game to turn," Duncan said. "The frustration or whatever it may be, was just an unfortunate turn in the game. It is what it is, but we kept our cool and stayed away from all that.

"We try to stay away from the complaining part of it. It's tough in a long season, and what happened tonight, with those guys probably didn't have a lot to do with us, but had a lot to do with some other games in the past and that frustration just built up."

In his second game back from ankle surgery, New Jersey's Richard Jefferson continued to show rust, scoring just seven points on 3-of-10 shooting.