NBA Game Summary - New Jersey at New York

New York, NY (Basketball News) - Richard Jefferson scored 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six assists as the New Jersey Nets downed the New York Knicks, 94-90, at Madison Square Garden.

Vince Carter added 26 points and six boards for the Nets, who have won their last four games. Nenad Krstic contributed 23 points on a perfect 11-of-11 from the floor. He was 1-of-2 from the free throw line.

The Nets have downed the Knicks three times this season and now own a six-game winning streak over New York.

All eyes were on the Knicks debut of Steve Francis, who was acquired by New York on Wednesday from Orlando for guard Anfernee Hardaway and forward Trevor Ariza. The guard ended with 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting.

His new backcourt mate, Stephon Marbury, had just six points in only his second game back after missing eight games because of a shoulder injury.

Channing Frye paced the Knicks, now losers in 18 of their last 20, with 20 points. Jalen Rose added 18 off the bench.

The Francis era in New York did not get off to a great start as the Nets opened up the game with a 10-0 run over the contest’s first 4:15. Francis finally put the Knicks on the board with a layup with 7:27 remaining in the first.

After a Frye dunk, the Nets rattled off another 10 straight to go ahead by 16 at 20-4 with just over five minutes remaining in the first. The Knicks though, scored 11 of the last 16 points in the quarter to get within 25-15 after one.

The Nets held a decisive advantage through the early part of the second until, down 32-22, a Rose dunk sparked an 8-2 run that pulled the Knicks to within 34-30 with 3:57 remaining.

The Nets later restored their 10-point edge after a Carter layup made it 44-34 with under one minute left. A free throw by Marbury capped the scoring in the half.

Jefferson (12 points) and Carter (11 points) paced the Nets in the first half. Rose and Frye each led New York with six points. Francis had just four points on 2-of-7 shooting.

The Knicks did not threaten in the third as the Nets held a 73-55 lead heading into the fourth. Ahead 60-49 with under four minutes left in the third, Krstic hit back-to-back jumpers and, after a Rose basket, Carter converted a three- point try to give the Nets a 16-point lead, 67-51, with 2:17 left.

The Nets went up by as much as 21 early in the fourth until a dunk by Eddy Curry started an 11-0 run that pulled New York to within 77-67 with 8:29 left. New Jersey later went back up 15, 85-70, after a Krstic jumper with 5:39 left.

The Knicks made a late run, but it was too late in the contest. After a pair of Jefferson free throws made it a 94-79 game with just over two minutes remaining, the Knicks closed out the contest on an 11-0 run. Francis capped the spurt with a three-pointer, but it came at the final buzzer.