European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 38 stars and stripes wednesday april 182007 nets beat neighbors again if Roundup the associated press the nets might never own the hearts of new York basketball fans they might have to Settle for owning the kicks instead while the kicks Are the areas More popular team their goncourt performances Pale in compari son to their neighbors from across the Hudson River that fact was highlighted again monday night in new jerseys 10495 Victory the nets won their sixth straight at Madison Square Gar Den and 10th in the last 11 meet Ings Overall against the kicks new Jersey has won 22 of the last 26 in the series including two victories in the last four nights and is 204 against new York in the regular season since acquiring Jason Kidd i love the setting this is the Best Arena in the world Kidd said to bring your a game every time you have the Opportunity to play Here As a Visi Tor you always want to Shine weve been very Fortu Nate to be Able to do that their a game meant Vince Carter had 29 Points 12 rebounds and 10 assists and the nets clinched at least the no 7 seed in the Eastern conference cart or had his second triple double of the season of fourth of his career that still leaves him 10 this sea son behind Kidd who also had one in the same game Carter had his first new Jersey is still hoping to catch struggling Washington for the no 6 seed and face Atlantic Divi Sion Champion Toronto in the first round the nets who have won three straight and five of six finish their season wednesday night at Home against Chicago we Are putting ourselves in a position where we moved up a seed guaranteed we Are at least the seven seed coach Lawrence Frank said again the goal is to try and get the Best possible seed and so we Are just going to have to keep on moving for Ward that s not a direction the kicks have been familiar with lately they have lost a season High five straight and need a Victory at Charlotte on wednes Day to avoid losing 50 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since doing it three straight times from 198487 As the nets move into the postseason the kicks head Home once More i cant complain at All about our Effort or the in Tensity that we play with kicks coach Isiah Tho Mas said Steve Francis scored 26 Points and Mardy Collins had 23 for the injury plagued kicks rockets 120 suns 117 at Houston Tracy Mcgrady had 39 Points 11 rebounds and nine assists As Host Houston secured Home court advantage in the first round of the Western conference play offs Yao Ming added 34 Points and nine rebounds for the who won their fifth straight game and snapped a six game losing Streak to Phoenix Amare Stoudemire scored 30 Points and Shawn Marion added 27 for the suns who used their Start ers most of the game even though they had already clinched the no 2 seed in the West Steve Nash added 15 Points and 15 assists jazz 130 Trail blazers 93 at Salt Lake City car los Boozer scored 26 Points and the jazz tied a sea son High for Points Utah won its 50th game of the season but will still open the playoffs on the Road against Houston Jiricek scored 21 Points after missing the last three games with a sore right Side and was one of seven Utah players to score in double figures Travis outlaw had 26 Points to Lead Portland nuggets 122 Timber wolves 107 Allen Iverson scored 25 Points then sat Back and watched the re serves close out the Host nuggets ninth win in 10 games Linas Kleiza scored 23 Points delighting a spirited Section of about 50 lithuanians decked out in Green and Gold to cheer on their countryman who nuggets coach George Karl credited with making the most strides this season carmelo Anthony added 21 in helping the nug gets pull away with a 194 run in the third Quarter Randy Foye and Justin Reed led the Timber wolves with 19 Points each 2vi new new Boston Dallas Phoenix san Antonio Utah Houston Denver la lakers Golden 66 61 58 50 52 44 41 14 20 23 31 29 37 40 825 753 716 617 642 543 506 5 8 16 14 22 25 26 la clippers new Orleans Sacramento Minnesota Portland Seattle 38 33 32 32 31 43 48 49 49 50 469 407 395 395 383 28 33 34 34 35 45 Seth new York kicks Jerome James left fouls new Jersey nets Vince Carter monday at Madison Square Garden the nets beat the kicks at their last Home game of the season 10495 both teams were without their big Man Kevin Garnett stayed Back in Minneapolis with a sore right thigh and Marcus Camby the leagues leading shot Blocker and favorite for defensive player of the year sat out with a sore right knee celtics 91 heat 89 at Miami Al Jeffersons jump Hook with on tenth of a second left lifted the celtics Delonte West scored 28 Points while Jeffer son finished with 20 Points and 13 rebounds for bos ton Jason Williams hit his first five three Point tries he finished 5for6 and scored 16 Points for Miami dwyane Wade had eight Points on 3for7 shooting in 23 minutes for Miami grizzlies 101 spurs 91 Pau gaol scored 25 Points grabbed 15 rebounds and had six assists to Lead Host Memphis both teams were without key players spurs Tim Duncan Tony Parker and Mann Ginobile took the night off because san Antonio was no longer playing to enhance its third seed in the West Memphis Start ers Mike Miller and Damon Stoudamire didst play because of knee injuries and Rookie Rudy Gay left in the second Quarter after aggravating an ankle in jury hornets 125 Kings 118 at Sacramento David West scored 25 Points casual Butler tied the game at 114 with a three Pointer and West put the Hor nets ahead for Good with a jumper with left but lers three Pointer moments later gave the hornets a five Point Lead Chris Paul contributed 23 Points and 12 assists for new Orleans while both Bobby Jackson and Devin Brown had 20 Points Ron Artest had 22 Points seven rebounds and five assists for Sacramento Bucks 102 Hawks 96 to Williams scored 26 Points Ruben Patterson added 23 and Milwaukee snapped a fou game Home losing Streak the Hawks got 21 Points from Marvin Williams and 16 Points and 17 rebounds from Shelden will iams in a matchup Between the teams with the third and fourth worst records in the league the Hawks were without a slew of players and even coach Mike Woodson who missed their final Road game with food poisoning assistant coach Larry Drew led the team Aba scoreboard Eastern conference w l pet go clinched playoff spot clinched division clinched conference mondays games Boston 91 Miami 89 new Jersey 104 new York 95 Milwaukee 102 Atlanta 96 Memphis 101 san Antonio 91 Houston 120 Phoenix 117 Denver 122 Minnesota 107 Utah 130 Portland 93 new Orleans 125 Sacramento 118 tuesdays games Indiana at Atlanta Orlando at Washington Cleveland at Philadelphia Toronto at Detroit la clippers at Phoenix Dallas at Golden state wednesdays games Miami at Orlando Philadelphia at Toronto Milwaukee at Cleveland new York at Charlotte Detroit at Boston Chicago at new Jersey Denver at san Antonio Washington at Indiana Memphis at Minnesota Houston at Utah Dallas at Seattle la lakers at Sacramento Golden state at Portland new Orleans at la clippers monday celtics 91 heat 89 Boston Jefferson 913 22 20 Gomes 29 68 11 Perkins 12 00 2 West 1019 55 28 Rondo 510 78 17 Green 19 00 3 Powe 23 33 7 Telfair 15 00 3 Ray 00 00 0 totals 3170232691 Miami Jones 35 00 9 Walker 212 00 6 Oneal 610 23 14 Wade 37 23 8 Williams 56 1116 Kapono 69 34 16 Doleac 48 22 10 Quinn 07 22 2 Barron 38117 Posey 00 00 0 Wright 00 12 1 totals 3272 1418 89 Boston 1318 29 2691 Miami 21 22 22 2489 three Point goal Boston 623 West 38 Gomes 13 Telfair 15 Green Miami 1121 Williams 56 Jones 34 Walker 26 Kapono 12 Quinn fouled 48 Jefferson Miami 38 Oneal assist Boston 19 Rondo Miami 23 Quinn total 22 Miami 21 coach Rivers Miami defensive three second nets 104 kicks 95 new Jersey Jefferson 212 1010 15 Moore 79 02 14 Collins 02 00 0 Carter 714 1213 29 Kidd 312 22 11 Nachbar 59 78 19 Boone 13 34 5r Williams 24 00 5 Robinson 12 0ff3 Wright 12 00 2 Adams 00 00 0 totals 2969 3439104 new York 712 46 18 Jeffries 13 00 2 Curry 48 02 8 Mol wins 620 912 23 Francis 616 1113 26 Rose 46 12 9 James 02 00 0 Robinson 39 00 7 Morris 12 00 2 Crawford 00 00 0 totals 3278 2535 95 new Jersey 27282425104 new York 25 19 252695 three Point goals new Jersey 1228 cart or 35 Kidd 310 Nachbar 23 Williams 23 Robinson 12 Jefferson new York 619 Francis 310 co Lions 26 Robinson fouled Jer sey 51 Carter new York 50 Collins Jersey 27 Carter new York 17 Collins total fouls new Jer sey 25 new York 23 Rose flagrant fouls Robinson a19763 Bucks 102 Hawks 96 Atlanta Mcwilliams 813 56 21 Smith 516 7917 Swilliams 69 4416 Ivey 71612 16 Lue 4112211 Jones 12 00 2 Ajohnson 37 35 9 Wright 01 00 0 Medvedenko 13 00 2 Batista 1100 2 totals 3679 2228 96 Milwaukee Bell 510 00 14 Patterson 813 713 23 Gad Zuric 49 00 8 Mcwilliams 1120 00 26 Boykins 48 00 9 Reiner 26 00 4 Ilyasova 14 23 4 Greer 37 00 6 Noel 27 00 6 Markota 12 00 2 totals 4186 916102 Atlanta 25 18 28 2596 Milwaukee 31 25 28 18102 three Point 28 Ivey 12 Lue 12 Medvedenko 01 Ajohnson Mil Waukee 1120 Bell 46 Mcwilliams 46 Noel 23 Boykins 13 Ilyasova 01 Greer fouled 54 Swilliams Milwaukee 47 Gad Zuric assistsatlanta22 Smith Ajohnson Mil Waukee 29 Boykins total 19 Milwaukee 22 a15613 grizzlies 101 spurs 91 san Antonio Bowen 01 00 0 Butler 51122 12 Elson 16 22 4 White 814 00 17 Vaughn 17 22 4 Finley 71100 17 Horry 47 1211 Oberto 25 00 4 Urrih 513 0012 Bon Ner 34 4410 Ely 05 00 0 totals 36841112 91 Memphis Jones 61134 16 Warrick 38 02 6 gaol 915 68 25 Kinsey 5112212 at Kins 712 2219 Gay 04 00 Johnson 22 00 4 Swift 25 6810 Harrington 44 00 9 totals 3872 1926101 san Antonio 17 26 23 2591 Memphis 26 30 26 19101 three Point goals san Antonio 815 Fin Ley 33 Horry 24 Urrih 25 White Mem Phis 612 Atkins 37 gaol 11 Jones 11 Harrington 11 Gay 01 Kinsey fouled Antonio 44 Bon Ner Butler Memphis 46 gaol As Antonio 24 Urrih Memphis 17 gaol total Antonio 20 Mem Phis 19 a13345 rockets 120 suns 117 Phoenix Marion 1116 34 27 Jjones 58 22 15 Stoudemire 1219 67 30 Bell 37 00 7 Nash 714 00 15 Barbosa 511 33 14 Diaw 4512 9 Thomas 02 00 0 totals 4782 1518 117 Houston Battier 68 00 17 Hayes 04 00 0 Yao 1420 66 34 Mcgrady 1431 811 39 Alston 312 4411 head 35 00 8 Howard 310117 Mutombo 23 00 4 Lucas 00 00 0 totals 4593 1922120 Phoenix 25 29 25 38117 Houston 24 32 35 29120 three Point 818 Jjones 34 Marion 24 Bell 12 Nash 13 Barbosa 14 Stoudemire Houston 1123 Battier 56 Mcgrady 37 head 24 Alston fouled 37 Barbosa Nash Stoudemire Houston 52 Mcgrady 31 Nash Houston 23 Alston Mcgrady total 20 Houston 17 Phoenix defensive three second Houston defensive three second a18375 nuggets 122 wolves 107 Minnesota Hassell 27 00 4 Csmith 815 01 16 Blount 815 22 18 Davis 412 34 11 Foye 610 44 19 Reed 814 34 19 James 26 33 7 Wright 511 24 13 totals 4390 1722 107 Denver Anthony 716 67 21 Najera 37 22 8 Nene 69 68 18 Iverson 101 46 25 Blake 26 00 5 Kleiza 712 88 23 Evans 34 11 7 Dianara 13 24 4 Carter 01 00 0 Johnson 15 34 5 Sampson 00 00 0 Smith 24 00 6 totals 4284 3240 122 Minnesota 30 23 18 30107 Denver 26 34 32 30122 three Point 414 Foye 34 Wright 15 James 01 Csmith 01 Davis Denver 618 Smith 24 Anthony 11 Iverson 12 Blake 13 Kleiza 15 Johnson fouled outdone rebound Minnesota 49 Foye Csmith Denver 53 Kleiza Nene assist Minnesota 32 Davis Denver 24 Blake total foul Minnesota 24 Denver 20 a18080 jazz 130 Trai blazers 93 Portland Webster 513 2714 Lafrentz 47 00 8 Magloire 24 34 7 Jones 37 00 7 Jack 48 11 9 Schescher 03 34 3 outlaw 412 1820 2s Rodriguez 2612 6 Dickau 69 0113 totals 3069 2839 93 Utah Kirilenko 13 00 2 Boozer 1214 24 26 Okur 513 67 16 Fisher 14 1112 13 Dwilliams 6111213 Jiricek 68 44 21 har Pring 47 34 11 Collins 13 22 4 Millsap 66 4516 Brown 13 00 2 Brewer 23 22 6 Araujo 02 00 0 totals 4577 3542130 Portland 23 22 27 2193 Utah 26 37 31 36130 three Point 515 web Ster 27 Jones 11 Dickau 12 Rodriguez 13 Jack 01 outlaw Utah 510 Wincek 56 Dwilliams 01 Brown do Okur fouled Schescher land 35 Lafrentz Utah 54 Boozer As Sist Portland 10 Jack 33 Brown total foul Portland 28 Utah 26 techno 2 flagrant ejected Magloire a19911 hornets 125 kings118 new Orleans Butler 59 00 13 West 1019 55 25 Jackson 59 2312 Brown 711 44 20 Paul 813 56 23 Jackson 813 22 20 Armstrong 34 00 6 pargo 15 00 2 Vinicius la 22 4 Simmons 02 too Bass oooo o Johnson 00 00 0 totals 4886 2022 125 Sacramento Artest 815 57 22 Abdurrahim 71112 15 Miller 56 00 10 Martin 38 67 12 Bibby 611 00 17 Douby 513 00 11 Williams 37 14 7 Salmons 25 22 7 Garcia 615 34 17 totals 4591 1826 118 new Orleans 31 30 33 31125 Sacramento 31303225118 three Point goals new Orleans 921 but Ler 36 Paul 22 b Jackson 25 Brown 26 West Sacramento 1028 Bibby 59 Gar Cia 26 Artest 13 Salmons 13 Douby 15 Abdurrahim 01 Martin fouled out none rebounds new Orleans 45 Arm Strong Sacramento 49 Williams As Sis Snew Orleans 28 Paul Sacramento 24 Artest total fouls new or leans 23 Sacramento 20 a17317