NBA Game Summary - New Orleans/Oklahoma City at New Jersey

02.6.2006

East Rutherford, NJ (Basketball News) - Richard Jefferson had 26 points, nine rebounds and seven assists to lead the New Jersey Nets past the New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets, 99-91, at Continental Airlines Arena.

Vince Carter contributed 21 points and Jason Kidd netted 14, grabbed nine boards and dished out 11 assists for the Nets, who extended their home winning streak to 11 games.

Nenad Krstic scored 16 points for New Jersey, which has won two in a row overall.

Speedy Claxton had 23 points and Rasual Butler added a season-high 18 points for New Orleans/Oklahoma City, which had a four-game winning streak snapped.

New Jersey opened the third period with a 20-7 spurt, including six points apiece from Carter and Jefferson, to take a 59-58 at the 4:23 mark. The Hornets went almost four minutes without a field goal to fuel the run.

David West’s layup with time running down gave the Hornets a 71-68 lead heading into the final frame.

The Nets began the fourth quarter shooting hot and took the game over. Krstic’s layup capped a 16-3 streak and gave New Jersey an 84-74 edge with 7:08 left to play.

Carter’s 10 first quarter points staked the Nets to a 25-20 lead after 12 minutes of play.

New Jersey took a 31-29 lead on Clifford Robinson’s jumper, but the Hornets responded with an 11-0 run, highlighted by Claxton’s three-point play, to make the score 40-31.

With the score 40-36, the Hornets reeled off an 11-3 streak to close the quarter with a 51-39 advantage. Claxton scored 14 of his 16 first half points in the period.

The Nets shot 35.1 percent in the first half, including 2-of-15 from long distance, while the Hornets connected on 50 percent of their shots.

The Nets shot 5-of-20 from the field and were outscored 31-14 in the second quarter...The Nets had not trailed at home at the half since the Dec. 16 against Denver...Krstic (flu-like symptoms) returned after missing Saturday’s game against the Heat...The Nets have won five straight meetings...New Jersey is 15-6 at home, while the Hornets are 9-15 on the road...Hornets guard Chris Paul had 13 assists.

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