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Kidd, Nets cruise past Durant's Sonics

Jan 10, 2008 - 4:38 AM By Joe Rizzo PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd did not get a shot at a fourth straight triple-double, but he could not complain.

Richard Jefferson scored 28 points and Kidd sat out the entire fourth quarter as the New Jersey Nets cruised to a 99-88 victory over the Seattle SuperSonics on Wednesday.

Kidd finished with 16 points, 11 assists and five rebounds but did not get a chance to become the first player to record four straight triple-doubles since Michael Jordan in 1989.

Jordan had seven straight from March 25-April 6, 1989. Despite falling short of the remarkable achievement, Kidd surely will take this outcome as opposed to Tuesday night's 115-99 loss to Charlotte.

"No matter the streak or no streak, I'd rather take the rest, get the win and get ready for Boston on Friday," Kidd said. "Hopefully, we can continue to play well and we can get another win at home on Friday."

"I think we were all a little bit disappointed by our performance (Tuesday)," Jefferson said. "We just had to keep with it and, to everyone's credit, we answered the bell."

Kidd's 3-pointer sparked an 18-8 run midway through the second quarter that put the Nets up, 54-41, with 2:00 left in the half.

Jefferson scored 21 points as the Nets shot 51 percent (22-of-43) from the field during their big first half. New Jersey led, 59-46, after two periods and by 15 at 80-65 after three quarters, and Seattle never seriously challenged after that.

Kidd was pulled with 28 seconds left in the third as the Nets enjoyed a rare blowout victory. Their only other double-digit win this season was a 100-79 drubbing of Cleveland on December 4.

"It's huge," Kidd said. "Any time you can play 28 minutes and get a win is big, especially with all the minutes I have been logging. (We) have a day off (Thursday) to get ready for Boston."

Vince Carter remained in the game and finished with 18 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 38 minutes.

"Once it got to a 12-point lead you would like to get Vince out, but guys on the bench are a little dried up so taking Vince out you're worried if you have enough scoring," New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said.

Seattle rookie Kevin Durant scored 15 points on 5-of-14 shooting a night after suffering a sprained ankle in a loss to Cleveland.

An array of injuries limited the Sonics to nine practice players and a short bench.

"We did not have enough healthy bodies," Sonics coach P.J. Carlesimo said. "Kevin's ankle, Jeff (Green's) ankle, Kurt (Thomas') knee."

Johan Petro matched his career high with 22 points off the bench and Nick Collison equaled his season high with 18 for the SuperSonics, who lost their fifth straight.

"He's got to build on it," Carlesimo said of Petro, a 7-foot French center in his third NBA season. "He's playing more minutes. He has to play the other end of the floor, too. This certainly was his best offensive game. A couple of major steps forward for him.

"We talk (as a team) about going up the hill, but we have slipped way back. Way back."