GAME THREAD: NBA: ATLANTA (1-1) at NEW JERSEY (2-1)

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NBA: ATLANTA (1-1) at NEW JERSEY (2-1)

<h3>Kidd, Nets to face Johnson, Hawks</h3>

<div class="pre">Atlanta (1-1) at New Jersey (2-1) 7:30 pm EST</div>

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Jason Kidd is doing thesame thing this season that has made him famous throughout hiscareer: ringing up triple-doubles.


Kidd will go for his 51st triple-double with the Nets when theyhost Joe Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

With a line of 16 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists, Kiddpicked up the 50th triple-double of his stint with New Jersey onSunday and the 88th on his career. The All-Star point guard isin his seventh season with the Nets after spending his firstthree with Dallas and the next five with Phoenix.


Richard Jefferson has been the beneficiary of Kidd's playmakingskills so far, leading New Jersey in scoring at 26.0 points pergame.


The Hawks have raised some eyebrows with their play as well,beating last season's NBA leader in wins, the Dallas Mavericks,101-94 on Friday before dropping a 92-91 decision to the DetroitPistons on Sunday.


Perennial Eastern Conference afterthoughts, Atlanta is ridingthe longest playoff drought in the NBA, having last reached thepostseason in 1998-99.


Johnson has led the way this season, averaging 25.5 points inthe first two contests.


The Nets won two of the three meetings between the teams lastseason.

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

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

ATLANTA NEW JERSEY

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
L WRIGHT PLANTAR FASCITIS, RI M WILLIAMS FOOT INJURY
S CLAXTON LEFT KNEE INJURY
Z PACHULIA LEFT KNEE INJURY</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

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


ATLANTA NEW JERSEY

F Josh Smith F Richard Jefferson
F Marvin Williams F Nenad Krstic
C Al Horford C Jason Collins
G Anthony Johnson G Jason Kidd
G Acie Law G Vince Carter

OFFICIALS: Ken Mauer
Scott Wall
Zach Zarba</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

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

REVISED LINEUPS

ATLANTA NEW JERSEY

F Josh Smith F Richard Jefferson
F Marvin Williams F Nenad Krstic
C Al Horford C Jason Collins
G Joe Johnson G Jason Kidd
G Acie Law G Vince Carter

OFFICIALS: Ken Mauer
Scott Wall
Zach Zarba</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 4
NEW JERSEY 4 9:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 12
NEW JERSEY 8 6:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 14
NEW JERSEY 16 3:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 19
NEW JERSEY 22 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 19 19
NEW JERSEY 22 22 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

ATL - MARVIN WILLIAMS 9, ACIE LAW 3, JOSH
SMITH 3
NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 6, JASON KIDD 4, VINCE
CARTER 4</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 28
NEW JERSEY 26 8:45 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 28
NEW JERSEY 34 6:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 34
NEW JERSEY 41 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 41
NEW JERSEY 45 HALFTIME</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 19 22 41
NEW JERSEY 22 23 45 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

ATL - MARVIN WILLIAMS 13, ACIE LAW 7, AL
HORFORD 6
NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 11, NENAD KRSTIC 8,
JASON KIDD 7</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 49
NEW JERSEY 47 8:50 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 53
NEW JERSEY 53 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 53
NEW JERSEY 59 3:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 57
NEW JERSEY 69 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 19 22 16 57
NEW JERSEY 22 23 24 69 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

ATL - MARVIN WILLIAMS 13, JOSH SMITH 12, JOE
JOHNSON 7
NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 21, JASON KIDD 9,
ANTOINE WRIGHT 9</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 62
NEW JERSEY 75 9:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 69
NEW JERSEY 77 6:07 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 77
NEW JERSEY 83 2:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 79
NEW JERSEY 85 0:49 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA ATLANTA 82
NEW JERSEY 87 FINAL</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 19 22 16 25 82
NEW JERSEY 22 23 24 18 87 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: ATL - JOSH CHILDRESS 18, JOSH SMITH 18, JOE
JOHNSON 15
NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 25, ANTOINE WRIGHT 15,
VINCE CARTER 12</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NBA
ATLANTA 82
NEW JERSEY 87 FINAL</div>

 

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NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (82) AT NEW JERSEY (87)

ATLANTA

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

J SMITH F 35:47 6-14 4-7 0 7 7 6 4 5 3 18
M WILLIAMS F 25:57 3-6 7-8 0 1 1 1 5 1 2 13
A HOFORD C 29:16 3-6 0-4 1 6 7 1 2 4 3 6
J JOHNSON G 36:44 6-16 1-1 0 2 2 4 3 0 3 15
A LAW G 25:24 1-5 4-5 0 4 4 0 1 0 4 7
J CHILDRESS 37:23 5-8 7-7 3 4 7 0 2 0 2 18
T LUE 24:53 1-10 0-0 0 1 1 3 1 1 2 3
S WILLIAMS 18:52 0-2 0-0 3 2 5 0 4 1 0 0
M WEST 5:43 1-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 2
S JONES 0:01 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
A JOHNSON DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
S STOUDAMIRE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 26-68 23-32 8 27 35 15 24 12 19 82
(.382) (.719) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 20 (23 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

R JEFFERSON F 36:17 8-15 9-10 2 2 4 1 3 1 4 25
N KRSTIC F 18:54 3-9 2-2 1 4 5 0 3 0 0 8
J COLLINS C 25:32 1-3 0-0 3 1 4 0 2 0 0 2
V CARTER G 36:02 6-16 0-0 1 3 4 5 2 1 1 12
J KIDD G 34:33 4-10 0-2 2 7 9 12 0 3 6 9
D ARMSTRONG 13:43 2-3 0-2 0 2 2 2 3 1 3 5
J MAGLOIRE 13:38 0-2 2-2 1 6 7 3 1 0 1 2
A WRIGHT 31:59 6-12 2-2 2 5 7 2 3 2 0 15
M ALLEN 6:13 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 2
B NACHBAR 23:09 3-6 0-0 0 2 2 3 3 0 1 7
J BOONE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S WILLIAMS DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 34-78 15-20 12 33 45 28 23 8 17 87
(.436) (.750) TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 18 (26 PTS)

ATLANTA 19 22 16 25 - 82
NEW JERSEY 22 23 24 18 - 87

BLOCKED SHOTS: ATLANTA - J SMITH 4, A HOFORD 2, S WILLIAMS. NEW JERSEY -
J MAGLOIRE 2, J KIDD, A WRIGHT, B NACHBAR.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: ATLANTA 7-18 (.389), J SMITH 2-2, J JOHNSON 2-6,
A LAW 1-3, J CHILDRESS 1-2, T LUE 1-5. NEW JERSEY 4-17 (.235), R JEFFERSON 0-
2, V CARTER 0-3, J KIDD 1-5, D ARMSTRONG 1-2, A WRIGHT 1-4, B NACHBAR 1-
1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NEW JERSEY - DEFENSIVE THREE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: KEN MAUER, SCOTT WALL, ZACH ZARBA.
A - 12,336. T - 2:18.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">ATLANTA (82)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Smith 35:47 6-14 4-7 0-7 6 4 18
M Williams 25:57 3-6 7-8 0-1 1 5 13
A Hoford 29:16 3-6 0-4 1-7 1 2 6
J Johnson 36:44 6-16 1-1 0-2 4 3 15
A Law 25:24 1-5 4-5 0-4 0 1 7
J Childress 37:23 5-8 7-7 3-7 0 2 18
T Lue 24:53 1-10 0-0 0-1 3 1 3
S Williams 18:52 0-2 0-0 3-5 0 4 0
M West 5:43 1-1 0-0 1-1 0 2 2
S Jones 0:01 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0
A Johnson DNP - NOT WITH TEAM
S Stoudamire DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 26-68 23-32 8-35 15 24 82
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.382, FT-.719. 3-Point Goals:
7-18, .389 (J Smith 2-2, J Johnson 2-6, A Law
1-3, J Childress 1-2, T Lue 1-5). Team
Rebounds: 10. Blocked Shots:7 (J Smith 4, A
Hoford 2, S Williams). Turnovers:19 (A Law 4,
J Johnson 3, A Hoford 3, J Smith 3, T Lue 2,
J Childress 2, M Williams 2). Steals: 12 (J
Smith 5, A Hoford 4, T Lue, M Williams, S
Williams).


NEW JERSEY (87)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
R Jefferson 36:17 8-15 9-10 2-4 1 3 25
N Krstic 18:54 3-9 2-2 1-5 0 3 8
J Collins 25:32 1-3 0-0 3-4 0 2 2
V Carter 36:02 6-16 0-0 1-4 5 2 12
J Kidd 34:33 4-10 0-2 2-9 12 0 9
D Armstrong 13:43 2-3 0-2 0-2 2 3 5
J Magloire 13:38 0-2 2-2 1-7 3 1 2
A Wright 31:59 6-12 2-2 2-7 2 3 15
M Allen 6:13 1-2 0-0 0-1 0 3 2
B Nachbar 23:09 3-6 0-0 0-2 3 3 7
J Boone DNP - COACH'S DECISION
S Williams DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 34-78 15-20 12-45 28 23 87
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.436, FT-.750. 3-Point Goals:
4-17, .235 (R Jefferson 0-2, V Carter 0-3, J
Kidd 1-5, D Armstrong 1-2, A Wright 1-4, B
Nachbar 1-1). Team Rebounds: 10. Blocked
Shots:5 (J Magloire 2, J Kidd, A Wright, B
Nachbar). Turnovers:17 (J Kidd 6, R Jefferson
4, D Armstrong 3, V Carter, J Magloire, M
Allen, B Nachbar). Steals: 8 (J Kidd 3, A
Wright 2, D Armstrong, V Carter, R
Jefferson).

-------------------------------------------
ATLANTA 19 22 16 25 - 82
NEW JERSEY 22 23 24 18 - 87
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: New Jersey - 1 (Defensive
Three, 10:37 3rd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 12,336. T: 2:18.
Officials: Ken Mauer, Scott Wall, Zach Zarba.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

NBA: ATLANTA at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 19 22 16 25 82
NEW JERSEY 22 23 24 18 87 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: ATL - JOSH CHILDRESS 18, JOSH SMITH 18, JOE
JOHNSON 15
NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 25, ANTOINE WRIGHT 15,
VINCE CARTER 12

HIGH REBOUND: ATL - JOSH CHILDRESS 7, JOSH SMITH 7, AL
HORFORD 7
NJN - JASON KIDD 9, JAMAAL MAGLOIRE 7, ANTOINE
WRIGHT 7

HIGH ASSISTS: ATL - JOSH SMITH 6, JOE JOHNSON 4, TYRONN LUE
3
NJN - JASON KIDD 12, VINCE CARTER 5, TWO
PLAYERS WITH 3

ATT: 12,336</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Carl Dispoto
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Richard Jefferson wasnearly flawless again in a game that was filled with mistakes.

Jefferson scored 10 of his 25 points in the third quarter andJason Kidd fell just shy of his second consecutive triple-doubleas the New Jersey Nets held on for an 87-82 victory over theAtlanta Hawks.


Jefferson led the Nets in scoring for the fourth time in as manygames, making 8-of-15 shots from the floor and 9-of-10 freethrows. He put on a rare display of offensive efficiency, asboth teams shot less than 44 percent from the floor and combinedfor 38 turnovers.


"He's playing at an All-Star level," said Nets guard VinceCarter of Jefferson. "He has shown he definitely is All-Starcaliber. He is playing some of his best basketball and we haveto keep pushing him to play that style and ride it out. I'mdefinitely proud of him."


Kidd collected nine points, 12 assists and nine rebounds justtwo days after recording his 88th career triple-double in avictory at Philadelphia. But he also struggled attimes,shooting 4-of-10 from the floor, 0-of-2 from thefree-throw line and committed six of New Jersey's 18 turnovers.

Carter also continued his slow start to the season, scoring just12 points on 6-of-16 shooting, and did not attempt a free throwin 36 minutes.


"It's not a concern," New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. "Thekey is he works his tail off."


New Jersey relied on defense to make up for its offensiveshortcomings, holding Atlanta to just 38 percent (26-of-68) fromthe floor. The Hawks also were just 23-of-32 from the line andcommitted 20 turnovers that led to 23 points for the Nets.

"The number one thing for us is we have to defend," Frank said."As we progress we'll be better offensively, but the key is ourdefensive effort. Three of our four games we've been decentdefensively but we still have to make great gains."

Atlanta nearly erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter,but again fell just short of finishing an impressive comebackagainst an Eastern Conference contender. The Hawks rallied froma seven-point deficit before suffering a 92-91 loss to Detroiton Sunday.


"We can't keep putting ourselves in this position," Atlantacoach Mike Woodson said. "When you are on the road and have achance to win games, you have to do everything down the stretchthe right way and we just didn't do that."


Josh Childress scored 18 points off the bench and Josh Smith had18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, five steals and fourblocks for the Hawks, who have lost two straight after animpressive season-opening victory at Dallas.


Joe Johnson finished with 15 points after battling early foultrouble and Marvin Williams added 13, but he was held scorelessin the second half.


The Nets took control late in the third quarter and had a 73-59advantage with 10:39 to go in the game. But Smith nailed a pairof 3-pointers during a 13-2 run to bring the Hawks within 77-75at the 5:05 mark.


Despite his struggles, Carter came through with a huge basketwhen he drove for a baseline dunk on the next possession - oneof his few easy attempts against Atlanta's athletic defense.

"The baseline was open and I just wanted to try to see whathappens," Carter said. "I just kept going and the rim was infront of me and I said, 'I think I can make this.'"

Antoine Wright, who scored 15 points, followed with a layup togive the Nets some breathing room, but the Hawks did not goquietly.


Johnson's 3-pointer with 39 seconds left got Atlanta within85-82, but Wright sealed the outcome when he passed up a3-pointer from the left wing and drove between Childress androokie Acie Law for a layup with 16 seconds remaining.

"We gave up too many layups and it puts too much pressure on ouroffense," Woodson said. "I can't fault our effort. Our efforthas been pretty solid but we're giving up too many big plays incrucial situations that are costing us."