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Nets relying on young players as season winds down

Apr 12, 2009 - 5:00 PM By Anthony Giornalista Stats Senior Writer

Charlotte (35-45) at New Jersey (33-47), 7:30 p.m. EDT

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (AP) -- The New Jersey Nets had three rookie starters in their last game. They'll be in position to add another young contributor for next season.

With All-Star guard Devin Harris still bothered by a shoulder injury, the Nets may have to start their trio of first-year players again when they face the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night in a matchup of lottery-bound teams.

Two games remain for a New Jersey team that will miss the playoffs for the second straight season. The Nets (33-47) were eliminated from playoff contention Wednesday night and are headed for the lottery again.

New Jersey took center Brook Lopez with the 10th overall pick in 2008, and him along with fellow rookies Ryan Anderson and Chris Douglas-Roberts were on the floor for tip-off in New Jersey's 103-93 win over Orlando on Saturday night.

The Nets beat one of the Eastern Conference's top teams even though Harris missed his fifth game since hurting his left shoulder in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on March 15. His status is uncertain.

New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank decided to rest the star guard with his team out of the playoff hunt. Harris has had a breakout season, averaging 21.5 points and 6.9 assists.

Douglas-Roberts, selected by the Nets in the second round, started for Harris versus the Magic and scored 10 points. Anderson, the second of New Jersey's first-round picks, had nine points while Lopez finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

The trio helped the Nets win their third straight at home, a streak that includes victories over Detroit and Philadelphia.

"We are playing to win," said New Jersey veteran swingman Vince Carter, who had 27 points and nine assists. "I don't want to disrespect the game. I want to give an effort and come to play. We're not trying to play spoilers. This is about us and that's what it has been about all year."

Carter led the Nets to a 114-103 overtime win over Charlotte (35-45) on Dec. 27. Gerald Wallace had a game-high 32 points for the Bobcats.

Wallace was held to 13 points in Charlotte's 113-106 loss to Chicago on Saturday night but managed not to commit a turnover while his teammates gave the ball up 16 times. The Bobcats had 15 turnovers in an 84-81 loss to Oklahoma City on Friday night, knocking them out of playoff contention.

"I can't explain it because it's not like we're being trapped or pressed," Charlotte coach Larry Brown said. "We just throw it all around."

The Bobcats rank near the bottom of the league with 15.7 turnovers per game.

Raymond Felton had 26 points versus the Bulls but committed a game-high five turnovers as Charlotte lost for the fifth time in six games after winning 12 of its previous 17.

"We have two games left. We just try to win every night - that has not changed," Bobcats forward Boris Diaw said. "We are out of the playoffs but that does not matter."

Charlotte concludes its season Wednesday night at Orlando while New Jersey plays at New York that evening.

The Bobcats and Nets have each won once on the road in this season's series.