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Kidd, Nets looking to continue dominance against Knicks

Dec 15, 2007 - 3:39 PM New Jersey (10-13) at New York (6-16) 7:30 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) - All the New Jersey Nets need to beat the New York Knicks is Jason Kidd.

The Nets aim for their 11th straight win against the Knicks with Kidd in the lineup when they visit Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

New Jersey is 23-2 against New York with Kidd on the court since acquiring the point guard in 2001 - including 10 straight at Madison Square Garden.

However, without Kidd's services, the Nets suffered a 100-93 setback to the Knicks when the two teams met for the first time this season on December 5.

Kidd missed the game with a migraine headache but multiple reports said he decided to sit out to protest the current state of the franchise and perhaps force a trade. The 13-year veteran denied the reports.

"I did have a migraine," Kidd said in an interview with WFAN radio in New York on December 6. "I would never disrespect the game by not playing because the game has been so good to me."

Kidd has averaged 10.5 points and 10.5 assists in his last four games since returning to the lineup.

The Knicks enter Saturday's game on a five-game losing streak. Zach Randolph scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, but it wasn't enough as New York was downed, 101-96, by the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Randolph, who was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers during the 2007 draft in June, has averaged 18 points and over 10 rebounds a game this season.