New Jersey Nets Team Report - February 26

(Basketball News) - The New Jersey Nets lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 81-68, on Wednesday in a matchup of division-leaders at the Target Center. The Nets franchise-best 14-game winning was halted.

Kenyon Martin had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead New Jersey in both categories. Jason Kidd collected 11 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, but shot just 5-of-20 from the field, as the Nets had a six-game road win streak snapped and lost for the first time overall since January 23rd.

New Jersey also fell for the first time under new head coach Lawrence Frank, whose 13-0 start to his career was the best start ever by any new manager/coach in professional sports history.

The Nets trailed by just one point at 55-54 heading into the fourth quarter, but Hudson and Fred Hoiberg took over from there for Minnesota. Hoiberg scored the first five points of the frame for the Timberwolves, as Minnesota held a 60-58 edge.

Then Troy Hudson, who finished with 29 points fir the Timberwolves, caught fire, scoring 12 in the midst of a 15-0 run that all but put the game away at 75-58.

Earlier this season, the Nets crushed the Timberwolves, 84-61, at Continental Airlines Arena. The Nets’ 14 consecutive wins was a season-high for the NBA this season.

Martin is averaging 22 points and 13.3 rebounds in his last three games.

New Jersey is off until Saturday when it hosts Atlantic Division rival Miami. The Nets are 1-1 against the Heat this season.

The Heat crushed the Nets, 85-64, on January 23 at AmericanAirlines Arena, while New Jersey defeated Miami, 99-88, on February 4 at Continental Airlines Arena.