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Kidd, Nets try to even series against Cavaliers

May 18, 2007 - 12:45 PM Cleveland at New Jersey 7:00 pm EDT Eastern Conference Semifinals Game Six

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd and the New Jersey Nets would like the NBA to have a Game Seven in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Facing elimination in Game Five, the sixth-seeded Nets posted an 83-72 victory over the second-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.

Game Six is Friday at the Continental Airlines Arena.

Kidd had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists for New Jersey, which led 77-59 entering the final quarter, but made only one field goal in the final 12 minutes. The Nets, who were just 1-of-15 in the period, fought hard to hold the Cavaliers to 3-of-16 in the quarter.

Kidd received support from the frontcourt duo of Richard Jefferson and Mikki Moore (29 points, 14 rebounds), reserve Bostjan Nachbar (13 points) and fellow backcourt mate Vince Carter.

Carter, who scored just 12 points, made New Jersey's lone basket in the final quarter with 4:06 left to increase the Nets' lead to 81-70. The eight-time All-Star struggled from the field in the first four contests, shooting just 34 percent (31-of-91). In Game Five he made 5-of-11 shots and handed out a game-high 10 assists.

The Cavaliers connected on just 33 percent of their shots (24-of-72) and watched All-Star LeBron James score 20 points on only 5-of-14 from the field. Zydrunas Ilgauskas (16 points) was the only other Cleveland player to score in double digits.

A win on Friday would send Cleveland to its first Eastern Conference finals since 1992.

The Nets have the daunting task of attempting to become the ninth team in NBA playoff history to erase a 3-1 deficit.