GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NBA: NEW JERSEY (4-7) at PORTLAND (4-7)

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NBA: NEW JERSEY (4-7) at PORTLAND (4-7)

<h3>Trail Blazers, Nets looking to end losing streaks</h3>

New Jersey (4-7) at Portland (4-7) 10:00 pm EST


PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- LaMarcus Aldridge and the PortlandTrail Blazers must be thrilled to be returning home.

Aldridge and the Trail Blazers aim to remain perfect at homethis season when they host the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday.

Portland has won all four of its games at the Rose Garden thisseason, including a trio of impressive victories over theDetroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Hornets -three teams with legitimate postseason aspirations.

But the Blazers have failed to win any of their seven roadcontests this season and limp into Wednesday's matchup aftergetting swept on their recent four-game road trip.

Portland's second-leading scorer, Aldridge managed a season-lowseven points Monday as the Trail Blazers dropped a 101-92decision to the Charlotte Bobcats.


Jarrett Jack scored 18 points in the loss and appears to havefound his rhythm after two sub-par seasons.


Like the Blazers, the Nets enter Wednesday's contest on a losingstreak of their own. New Jersey has lost six straight contestsafter suffering a 102-75 loss to the Utah Jazz on Monday.

The Nets have struggled without the services of seven-timeAll-Star Vince Carter, who has missed the last five games afterspraining his right ankle against the Boston Celtics on November10.

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY AT PORTLAND - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS


NEW JERSEY PORTLAND

F Richard Jefferson F Martell Webster
F Marcus Williams F Lamarcus Aldridge
C Jamaal Magloire C Channing Frye
G Vince Carter G Brandon Roy
G Jason Kidd G Steve Blake

OFFICIALS: Joe Forte
Scott Wall
Sean Wright</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY VS PORTLAND - INACTIVES

NEW JERSEY PORTLAND

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
D ARMSTRONG RIGHT THIGH CONTUSIO D MILES RIGHT KNEE INJURY
M WILLIAMS FOOT INJURY J JONES KNEE INJURY
G ODEN RIGHT KNEE INJURY</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY AT PORTLAND - PROBABLE STARTING LINEUPS

REVISED LINEUPS

NEW JERSEY PORTLAND

F Richard Jefferson F Lamarcus Aldridge
F Malik Allen F Martell Webster
C Jason Collins C Channing Frye
G Jason Kidd G Steve Blake
G Antoine Wright G Brandon Roy

OFFICIALS: Joe Forte
Scott Wall
Sean Wright</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 6
PORTLAND 2 9:01 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 13
PORTLAND 6 5:40 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 17
PORTLAND 19 2:08 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 19
PORTLAND 26 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 19
PORTLAND 26 26 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 6, ANTOINE WRIGHT 5,
MALIK ALLEN 4
POR - BRANDON ROY 15, MARTELL WEBSTER 5,
TRAVIS OUTLAW 2</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 24
PORTLAND 31 8:46 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 32
PORTLAND 38 5:36 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 38
PORTLAND 42 2:38 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 45
PORTLAND 48 HALFTIME</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 26 45
PORTLAND 26 22 48 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 13, ANTOINE WRIGHT 8,
JASON KIDD 5
POR - BRANDON ROY 21, MARTELL WEBSTER 8,
JARRETT JACK 5</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 53
PORTLAND 55 8:40 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 60
PORTLAND 67 5:42 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 64
PORTLAND 73 2:59 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 74
PORTLAND 79 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 26 29 74
PORTLAND 26 22 31 79 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 26, ANTOINE WRIGHT 11,
BOSTJAN NACHBAR 10
POR - BRANDON ROY 23, MARTELL WEBSTER 15,
JARRETT JACK 10</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 92
PORTLAND 93 4:19 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 98
PORTLAND 97 2:43 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 103
PORTLAND 101 0:42 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA NEW JERSEY 106
PORTLAND 101 FINAL</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 19 26 29 32 106
PORTLAND 26 22 31 22 101 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 30, BOSTJAN NACHBAR
23, VINCE CARTER 13
POR - BRANDON ROY 25, CHANNING FRYE 15,
MARTELL WEBSTER 15</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Vince Carter returned to thelineup for the New Jersey Nets. But it was Jason Kidd andBostjan Nachbar who made the difference on Wednesday night.

Kidd recorded his 90th career triple-double, collecting 12points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, and grabbed a huge offensiverebound in the waning seconds as the Nets snapped a six-gameskid with a 106-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nachbar scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, including13 in the fourth quarter, for New Jersey, which scored thefinal eight points of the game to secure the victory.

Kidd capped the decisive spurt with two free throws with 6.9seconds left to provide the final margin. The foul shots weremade possible by Kidd's offensive rebound off Nachbar's missed3-pointer with the Nets clinging to a three-point lead in thefinal seconds.


New Jersey needed that clutch performance after Carter returnedfrom a five-game absence due to a right ankle injury. He had 13points on 6-of-8 shooting but was limited to just 27 minutes.

Carter, who came off the bench for Antoine Wright, entered thegame at the 3:14 mark of the first period and looked rusty atfirst - missing his first two shots and committing an offensivefoul in his first two minutes of action.


The Nets' star duo of Kidd and Carter also was aided by RichardJefferson, who scored 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Jeffersonscored 13 points in the third quarter to spark a 13-3 run thatgot his team back into the game.


Josh Boone's free throw with 10:28 to play in the fourth cappedthe spurt, giving the Nets an 80-79 lead - their first advantagesince early in the game. The lead swayed back and forth untilthe final burst.


Brandon Roy scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half for theBlazers, who have lost five in a row since a four-game winningstreak.

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY (106) AT PORTLAND (101)

NEW JERSEY

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

R JEFFERSON F 40:01 8-12 11-14 0 4 4 3 3 0 2 30
M ALLEN F 14:31 2-3 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 4
J COLLINS C 20:16 1-2 0-2 0 0 0 2 1 1 2 2
A WRIGHT G 31:01 4-10 0-0 1 4 5 2 5 0 0 11
J KIDD G 40:57 4-11 3-3 2 9 11 13 2 1 4 12
V CARTER 27:40 6-8 0-0 0 1 1 3 4 0 4 13
S WILLIAMS 13:11 1-2 1-2 1 2 3 0 4 0 1 3
N KRSTIC 3:34 0-2 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
E GILL 8:42 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0
B NACHBAR 26:10 7-10 4-6 0 4 4 1 2 2 1 23
J BOONE 13:57 3-6 2-5 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 8
J MAGLOIRE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 36-67 21-32 7 25 32 28 22 5 14 106
(.537) (.656) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 14 (18 PTS)

PORTLAND

REBOUNDS
PLAYER POS MIN FGM-FGA FTM-FTA OFF-DEF-TOT AST PF ST TO PTS
====== === === ======= ======= =========== === == == == ===

M WEBSTER F 37:03 5-8 2-3 0 5 5 1 4 1 0 15
L ALDRIDGE F 30:53 4-11 6-6 2 6 8 1 5 1 4 14
C FRYE C 25:54 6-7 3-3 0 5 5 3 3 1 2 15
B ROY G 40:29 9-14 3-4 0 2 2 6 2 2 2 25
S BLAKE G 30:29 4-10 1-2 1 3 4 6 3 0 0 9
T OUTLAW 28:51 4-9 0-2 2 2 4 0 3 1 2 8
J JACK 29:34 4-8 5-7 1 2 3 5 2 0 1 13
J PRZYBILLA 10:22 1-1 0-0 0 3 3 0 3 0 2 2
S RODRIGUEZ 6:25 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 2 1 1 2 0
R LAFRENTZ DNP - COACH'S DECISION
T GREEN DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J MCROBERTS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 37-68 20-27 6 28 34 24 26 7 15 101
(.544) (.741) TEAM REBS: 8 TOTAL TO: 15 (23 PTS)

NEW JERSEY 19 26 29 32 - 106
PORTLAND 26 22 31 22 - 101

BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW JERSEY - J BOONE. PORTLAND - C FRYE 2, L ALDRIDGE 2.

3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW JERSEY 13-26 (.500), R JEFFERSON 3-3, A WRIGHT 3-
7, J KIDD 1-5, V CARTER 1-2, E GILL 0-1, B NACHBAR 5-8. PORTLAND 7-
13 (.538), M WEBSTER 3-6, B ROY 4-4, S BLAKE 0-3.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - DEFENSIVE THREE. PORTLAND - DEFENSIVE
THREE, J JACK.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE FORTE, SCOTT WALL, SEAN WRIGHT.
A - 18,423. T - 2:19.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY (106)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Jefferson 40:01 8-12 11-14 0-4 3 3 30
M Allen 14:31 2-3 0-0 1-2 1 0 4
J Collins 20:16 1-2 0-2 0-0 2 1 2
A Wright 31:01 4-10 0-0 1-5 2 5 11
J Kidd 40:57 4-11 3-3 2-11 13 2 12
V Carter 27:40 6-8 0-0 0-1 3 4 13
S Williams 13:11 1-2 1-2 1-3 0 4 3
N Krstic 3:34 0-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
E Gill 8:42 0-1 0-0 0-0 3 0 0
B Nachbar 26:10 7-10 4-6 0-4 1 2 23
J Boone 13:57 3-6 2-5 2-2 0 1 8
J Magloire DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 36-67 21-32 7-32 28 22 106
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.537, FT-.656. 3-Point Goals:
13-26, .500 (R Jefferson 3-3, A Wright 3-7, J
Kidd 1-5, V Carter 1-2, E Gill 0-1, B Nachbar
5-8). Team Rebounds: 6. Blocked Shots:1 (J
Boone). Turnovers:14 (J Kidd 4, V Carter 4, R
Jefferson 2, J Collins 2, B Nachbar, S
Williams). Steals: 5 (B Nachbar 2, J Kidd, J
Collins, E Gill).


PORTLAND (101)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
M Webster 37:03 5-8 2-3 0-5 1 4 15
L Aldridge 30:53 4-11 6-6 2-8 1 5 14
C Frye 25:54 6-7 3-3 0-5 3 3 15
B Roy 40:29 9-14 3-4 0-2 6 2 25
S Blake 30:29 4-10 1-2 1-4 6 3 9
T Outlaw 28:51 4-9 0-2 2-4 0 3 8
J Jack 29:34 4-8 5-7 1-3 5 2 13
J Przybilla 10:22 1-1 0-0 0-3 0 3 2
S Rodriguez 6:25 0-0 0-0 0-0 2 1 0
R LaFrentz DNP - COACH'S DECISION
T Green DNP - COACH'S DECISION
J McRoberts DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 37-68 20-27 6-34 24 26 101
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.544, FT-.741. 3-Point Goals:
7-13, .538 (M Webster 3-6, B Roy 4-4, S Blake
0-3). Team Rebounds: 8. Blocked Shots:4 (C
Frye 2, L Aldridge 2). Turnovers:15 (L
Aldridge 4, J Przybilla 2, C Frye 2, B Roy 2,
S Rodriguez 2, T Outlaw 2, J Jack). Steals: 7
(B Roy 2, C Frye, T Outlaw, L Aldridge, M
Webster, S Rodriguez).

--------------------------------------------
NEW JERSEY 19 26 29 32 - 106
PORTLAND 26 22 31 22 - 101
--------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 1 (Defensive
Three, 8:09 3rd). Portland - 2 (Defensive
Three, 7:00 2nd; J Jack, 0:47 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 18,423. T: 2:19.
Officials: Joe Forte, Scott Wall, Sean Wright.</div>

 

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NBA: NEW JERSEY at PORTLAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
NEW JERSEY 106
PORTLAND 101 FINAL</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Vince Carter returned to thelineup for the New Jersey Nets. But it was Jason Kidd andBostjan Nachbar who made the difference on Wednesday night.

Kidd recorded his 90th career triple-double, collecting 12points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, and grabbed a huge offensiverebound in the waning seconds as the Nets snapped a six-gameskid with a 106-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Nachbar scored 20 of his 23 points in the second half, including13 in the fourth quarter, for New Jersey, which scored thefinal eight points of the game to secure the victory.

"We are happy to get the win," Kidd said. "They have been alittle more difficult to get than we would like, so it feelsgood. I'm not tired because I didn't play in Utah. If I playmore minutes, it means we are in the ballgames."


Kidd capped the decisive spurt with two free throws with 6.9seconds left to provide the final margin. The foul shots weremade possible by Kidd's offensive rebound off Nachbar's missed3-pointer with the Nets clinging to a three-point lead in thefinal seconds.


"Just at the right place at the right time," Kidd said of thefinal sequence. "Before all of that, we had some other bigplays out there. It just wasn't one play, but we made playscoming down the end, and we haven't been in that position in awhile."


New Jersey needed that clutch performance after Carter returnedfrom a five-game absence due to a right ankle injury. He had 13points on 6-of-8 shooting but was limited to just 27 minutes.

"It was good to get out there and try to make a difference,"Carter said. "At the end, I was excited to be out there andwanted to help make things happen, help get this team back ontrack. I wasn't seeing how many points I could put up, I justwanted to get out there. It felt good to get out there."

"When you look at it, Vince just attracts so much attention,"Kidd said. "Guys aren't going to leave him open and that justgives everyone else wide-open shots. That's what Vince bringsto this team. Make or miss, he's gonna help other guys getwide-open looks."


Carter, who came off the bench for Antoine Wright, entered thegame at the 3:14 mark of the first period and looked rusty atfirst - missing his first two shots and committing an offensivefoul in his first two minutes of action.


"Four turnovers aren't great, but I think I was just excited toget back out there," Carter said. "My performance was OK."

The Nets' star duo of Kidd and Carter also was aided by RichardJefferson, who scored 30 points on 8-of-12 shooting. Jeffersonscored 13 points in the third quarter to spark a 13-3 run thatgot his team back into the game.


Josh Boone's free throw with 10:28 to play in the fourth cappedthe spurt, giving the Nets an 80-79 lead - their first advantagesince early in the game. The lead swayed back and forth untilthe final burst.


Brandon Roy scored 21 of his 25 points in the first half for theBlazers, who have lost five in a row since a four-game winningstreak.


"He was going good early and he is quite the talent," Kidd saidof Roy. "We just tried running different looks at him and triedto tire him out by the end of the game. Fortunately, he mighthave ran out of gas or whatever, but we got done what he neededto do to slow him down."