Robinson’s late heroics push Nets past Knicks

The Nets led by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter but they shot 6-of-14 from the line in the fourth quarter to keep the Knicks in the game.

Stephon Marbury’s three-point play brought New York within 95-89 with under three minutes to play, but the Nets bucketed four straight points.

The Knicks then went on an 11-0 run, capped by David Lee’s offensive rebound and tip-in, with 9.7 ticks to play, and gave New York its first lead of the second half 100-99.

Vince Carter then drove the ball into the paint, but his shot rimmed out. However, Robinson was there for the putback.

"I had a good run at the basket," said Robinson. "They were all sitting there watching Vince. The ball came off and I was able to get a hand on it."

Marbury had a chance to win the game, but his long distance shot from beyond midcourt didn’t fall.

Jason Kidd had 23 points, nine assists and seven rebounds while Richard Jefferson added 21 points and dished out six assists for the Nets, who have won three in a row and eight of their last 10 contests.

Vince Carter chipped in 16 points, handed out seven assists and grabbed six rebounds and Eddie House netted 12 for New Jersey, which has won seven of the last eight meetings.

Quentin Richardson scored a team-high 24 points and pulled down nine boards while Marbury had 23 points and seven assists for the Knicks, who lost their second straight game in the final seconds.

"Us playing somebody close isn’t good enough, that might have been in the past," said Richardson. "We have to go out and start winning these games."

Caron Butler’s slam dunk in the final moments on Wednesday gave Washington a 99-98 win.

This is the first meeting between the teams since the preseason finale on October 27, when Steve Francis and Mikki Moore were both ejected with 16.1 seconds left after a confrontation. Francis pushed Moore after the forward knocked him to the ground, resulting in heated words from both benches.

Even Isiah Thomas and Lawrence Frank got into the verbal sparring, and after the game Thomas walked toward the New Jersey bench to confront Frank but he walked away.

The Knicks led 24-22 after the opening 12 minutes of play, but the Nets began the second stanza with an 18-5 run, highlighted by Robinson’s trey, for a 40-29 margin.

House’s three gave New Jersey a 48-36 advantage but New York tallied 12 of the final 18 points of the half, including five points from Richardson, cutting the deficit to 54-48.

Richardson’s free throw narrowed the gap to 69-65, but Kidd drained a shot from just inside the arc, Jefferson hit two from the charity stripe and Moore connected on a jumper for a 10-point lead, 75-65.

New Jersey took a 75-66 lead into the final frame.

Leading 77-69, the Nets scored seven of the next nine points, ending with Josh Boone’s tip-in for an 84-71 score and their biggest lead of the game.

Game Notes

The Nets shot 50 percent from the field, while the Knicks connected on 49 percent of their shots from the floor...Robinson finished with 11 points and six rebounds and Moore scored 10 points...New York’s Channing Frye had 16 points and seven boards while Eddy Curry netted 14 and pulled down 11 rebounds...New Jersey has won five straight and seven of the last eight contests at MSG. The last time the Knicks beat the Nets at home was on March 9, 2004.