GAME THREAD: NBA: WASHINGTON (0-3) at NEW JERSEY (3-1)

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NBA: WASHINGTON (0-3) at NEW JERSEY (3-1)

<h3>Nets try to stay hot against struggling Wizards</h3>

<div class="pre">Washington (0-3) at New Jersey (3-1) 7:30 pm EST</div>

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - The New Jersey Nets lookto win their third straight game on Thursday when they take onthe struggling Washington Wizards.


The Nets have won back-to-back games following an embarrassing37-point loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. New Jersey hasrelied heavily on its defense, holding both the Philadelphia76ers and Atlanta Hawks under 90 points.


The Nets rank 14th in the NBA, allowing 99.0 points per game,but average six blocks a contest - eighth best in the league.

While New Jersey has been winning on the defensive end, theWizards can't stop anyone. Washington allows 105.3 points pergame - seventh worst in the league - a season after surrendering104.9 points.


The Wizards are 0-3 for the first time since the 1992-93 seasonwhen they began the campaign with four consecutive losses.Despite the slow start, Brendan Haywood has presence in the lanefor the first time in his seven-year career.


Haywood has logged three straight double-doubles for the firsttime in his career and is averaging 10.0 points and 13.7rebounds this season. The 28-year-old 7-footer has neveraveraged more than 9.4 points or 6.8 rebounds for a seasonduring his career.

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

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


WASHINGTON NEW JERSEY

F Antawn Jamison F Richard Jefferson
F Caron Butler F Nenad Krstic
C Brendan Haywood C Jason Collins
G DeShawn Stevenson G Jason Kidd
G Gilbert Arenas G Vince Carter

OFFICIALS: Ron Garretson
Derrick Collins
David Guthrie</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

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

WASHINGTON NEW JERSEY

PLAYER NAME REASON PLAYER NAME REASON
E THOMAS HEART SURGERY M WILLIAMS RIGHT FOOT</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 4
NEW JERSEY 2 9:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 14
NEW JERSEY 2 6:02 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 20
NEW JERSEY 9 2:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 27
NEW JERSEY 15 END, 1ST QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA END 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 27 27
NEW JERSEY 15 15 END 1ST QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 1ST QUARTER

WAS - ANTAWN JAMISON 9, GILBERT ARENAS 8,
CARON BUTLER 6
NJN - JASON KIDD 3, VINCE CARTER 2, RICHARD
JEFFERSON 2</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 33
NEW JERSEY 17 9:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 37
NEW JERSEY 20 6:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 39
NEW JERSEY 29 3:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 41
NEW JERSEY 36 HALFTIME</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 27 14 41
NEW JERSEY 15 21 36 HALFTIME

HIGH SCORERS AT HALFTIME

WAS - ANTAWN JAMISON 13, GILBERT ARENAS 10,
CARON BUTLER 8
NJN - VINCE CARTER 9, RICHARD JEFFERSON 7,
JASON KIDD 6</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 45
NEW JERSEY 38 9:09 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 49
NEW JERSEY 44 6:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 54
NEW JERSEY 48 3:10 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 58
NEW JERSEY 57 END, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA END 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 27 14 17 58
NEW JERSEY 15 21 21 57 END 3RD QTR

HIGH SCORERS AFTER 3RD QUARTER

WAS - ANTAWN JAMISON 22, CARON BUTLER 13,
GILBERT ARENAS 11
NJN - VINCE CARTER 18, RICHARD JEFFERSON 15,
JASON KIDD 6</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 65
NEW JERSEY 67 8:45 LEFT, 3RD QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 70
NEW JERSEY 71 7:13 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">CORRECTION

NBA WASHINGTON 70
NEW JERSEY 71 7:13 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 73
NEW JERSEY 75 6:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 79
NEW JERSEY 77 3:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 83
NEW JERSEY 85 0:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA WASHINGTON 85
NEW JERSEY 87 FINAL</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">NBA FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 27 14 17 27 85
NEW JERSEY 15 21 21 30 87 FINAL

HIGH SCORERS: WAS - ANTAWN JAMISON 24, GILBERT ARENAS 21,
CARON BUTLER 21
NJN - RICHARD JEFFERSON 25, VINCE CARTER 24,
BOSTJAN NACHBAR 14</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Carl Dispoto
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Richard Jeffersonscored 25 points and sank a pair of crucial free throws with24 seconds left as the New Jersey Nets rallied from a 20-pointdeficit for an 87-85 victory over the winless Washington Wizardson Wednesday.


Vince Carter added 24 points for the Nets, who have won threestraight since an embarrassing 106-69 loss to the TorontoRaptors at home last Friday.


After a horrendous start to this one, the Nets rallied with a19-2 run late in the second quarter. They battled for the restof the game and appeared to seal the game when Jeffersonconverted a three-point play for an 85-79 lead with 1:53remaining.


But the Wizards scored six straight points - all on free throws- as Caron Butler forged an 85-85 tie by sinking a pair with 39seconds left.


Jefferson rebounded a missed 3-pointer by Carter on the otherend and was fouled. He sank both free throws, making him12-for-12 from the free-throw line in the game.


Antoine Wright and Carter combined to force Gilbert Arenas intoan erratic jumper from the right corner as time expired as theNets secured the victory.


Arenas scored 21 points on 7-of-17 shooting for Washington,which shot just 40 percent (29-of-73) from the field.

Antawn Jamison added 24 points and nine rebounds for theWizards, who have lost their first four games for the first timesince the 1992-93 season.

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (85) AT NEW JERSEY (87)

WASHINGTON

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

G ARENAS G 42:34 7-17 5-7 0 4 4 6 2 0 6 21
D STEVENSON G 13:24 0-4 0-0 0 1 1 2 3 0 1 0
A JAMISON F 43:11 8-14 6-7 0 9 9 0 1 2 3 24
C BUTLER F 41:00 8-18 5-5 2 5 7 1 2 7 2 21
B HAYWOOD C 29:34 1-2 0-0 1 2 3 1 4 0 2 2
A DANIELS 26:08 1-4 2-2 0 3 3 4 4 0 0 5
D SONGAILA 15:58 2-4 2-2 3 3 6 0 3 0 0 6
A BLATCHE 14:02 1-4 2-3 2 1 3 2 3 0 1 4
N YOUNG 8:48 1-3 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 2
R MASON JR 5:21 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
D MCGUIRE DNP - COACH'S DECISION
O PECHEROV DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 29-73 22-26 8 29 37 16 25 9 15 85
(.397) (.846) TEAM REBS: 6 TOTAL TO: 15 (0 PTS)

NEW JERSEY

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

J KIDD G 38:47 2-9 1-2 2 6 8 10 1 1 2 6
V CARTER G 41:41 6-13 12-14 0 5 5 5 2 2 3 24
N KRSTIC F 13:36 2-5 0-0 0 3 3 0 2 0 1 4
R JEFFERSON F 40:25 6-13 12-12 3 3 6 0 2 1 3 25
J COLLINS C 12:20 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 0
A WRIGHT 29:12 4-10 0-0 0 1 1 2 5 0 0 8
J MAGLOIRE 28:08 1-5 0-1 3 9 12 1 4 0 3 2
B NACHBAR 19:36 5-11 2-2 0 3 3 2 4 0 2 14
D ARMSTRONG 9:13 0-2 0-0 0 1 1 3 2 1 1 0
M ALLEN 4:18 1-3 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
S WILLIAMS 2:44 1-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 2
J BOONE DNP - COACH'S DECISION

TOTALS 240:00 28-72 27-31 8 31 39 23 26 5 17 87
(.389) (.871) TEAM REBS: 14 TOTAL TO: 17 (0 PTS)

WASHINGTON 27 14 17 27 - 85
NEW JERSEY 15 21 21 30 - 87

BLOCKED SHOTS: WASHINGTON - B HAYWOOD 3, D STEVENSON, N YOUNG. NEW JERSEY -
V CARTER 2, J MAGLOIRE, R JEFFERSON, J COLLINS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: WASHINGTON 5-18 (.278), G ARENAS 2-7, A JAMISON 2-
4, C BUTLER 0-2, A DANIELS 1-1, N YOUNG 0-1, R MASON JR 0-3. NEW JERSEY 4-
22 (.182), J KIDD 1-6, V CARTER 0-2, R JEFFERSON 1-2, A WRIGHT 0-4,
B NACHBAR 2-6, D ARMSTRONG 0-2.
TECHNICAL FOULS: WASHINGTON - B HAYWOOD.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: DAVID GUTHRIE, DERRICK COLLINS, RON GARRETSON.
A - 13,267. T - 2:16.</div>

 

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NBA: WASHINGTON at NEW JERSEY

<div class="pre">WASHINGTON (85)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
G Arenas 42:34 7-17 5-7 0-4 6 2 21
D Stevenson 13:24 0-4 0-0 0-1 2 3 0
A Jamison 43:11 8-14 6-7 0-9 0 1 24
C Butler 41:00 8-18 5-5 2-7 1 2 21
B Haywood 29:34 1-2 0-0 1-3 1 4 2
A Daniels 26:08 1-4 2-2 0-3 4 4 5
D Songaila 15:58 2-4 2-2 3-6 0 3 6
A Blatche 14:02 1-4 2-3 2-3 2 3 4
N Young 8:48 1-3 0-0 0-1 0 1 2
R Mason Jr 5:21 0-3 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
D McGuire DNP - COACH'S DECISION
O Pecherov DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 29-73 22-26 8-37 16 25 85
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.397, FT-.846. 3-Point Goals:
5-18, .278 (G Arenas 2-7, A Jamison 2-4, C
Butler 0-2, A Daniels 1-1, N Young 0-1, R
Mason Jr 0-3). Team Rebounds: 6. Blocked
Shots:5 (B Haywood 3, D Stevenson, N Young).
Turnovers:15 (G Arenas 6, A Jamison 3, B
Haywood 2, C Butler 2, D Stevenson, A
Blatche). Steals: 9 (C Butler 7, A Jamison
2).


NEW JERSEY (87)

fg ft rb
min m-a m-a o-t a pf tp
J Kidd 38:47 2-9 1-2 2-8 10 1 6
V Carter 41:41 6-13 12-14 0-5 5 2 24
N Krstic 13:36 2-5 0-0 0-3 0 2 4
R Jefferson 40:25 6-13 12-12 3-6 0 2 25
J Collins 12:20 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 2 0
A Wright 29:12 4-10 0-0 0-1 2 5 8
J Magloire 28:08 1-5 0-1 3-12 1 4 2
B Nachbar 19:36 5-11 2-2 0-3 2 4 14
D Armstrong 9:13 0-2 0-0 0-1 3 2 0
M Allen 4:18 1-3 0-0 0-0 0 0 2
S Williams 2:44 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2
J Boone DNP - COACH'S DECISION

______________________________________________________
TOTALS 240:00 28-72 27-31 8-39 23 26 87
______________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.389, FT-.871. 3-Point Goals:
4-22, .182 (J Kidd 1-6, V Carter 0-2, R
Jefferson 1-2, A Wright 0-4, B Nachbar 2-6, D
Armstrong 0-2). Team Rebounds: 14. Blocked
Shots:5 (V Carter 2, J Magloire, R Jefferson,
J Collins). Turnovers:17 (V Carter 3, J
Magloire 3, R Jefferson 3, J Kidd 2, B
Nachbar 2, J Collins 2, D Armstrong, N
Krstic). Steals: 5 (V Carter 2, D Armstrong,
R Jefferson, J Kidd).

-------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 27 14 17 27 - 85
NEW JERSEY 15 21 21 30 - 87
-------------------------------------------

Technical fouls: Washington - 1 (B Haywood,
4:07 2nd).
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 13,267. T: 2:16.
Officials: David Guthrie, Derrick Collins,
Ron Garretson.</div>

 

[SportsTicker]

By Carl Dispoto
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) -- Five games into the2007-08 campaign, Vince Carter feels like his season has justbegun.


Carter matched his season high with 24 points and followedRichard Jefferson's decisive free throws by blocking GilbertArenas' shot in the final seconds as the New Jersey Nets ralliedfrom a 20-point deficit for an 87-85 win over the winlessWashington Wizards on Wednesday.


Vince Carter added 24 points for the Nets, who have won threestraight since an embarrassing 106-69 loss to the TorontoRaptors at home last Friday.


Carter made just 18-of-55 shots and scored a total of 61 pointsin his first four games. But he seemed to regain some of hisrhythm, making 6-of-13 shots from the floor and 12-of-14 freethrows - joking that the game represented his season opener.

"It was my season opener and it was fun," Carter said. "I'm notreally worried about my offense, I knew it would come sooner orlater. My mentality is to just continue to be aggressive,shoot the ball with confidence and try to get easy baskets. Youjust have to keep playing until things go your way."

"I congratulated him on joining us in the 2007-08 season,"Jefferson said. "He was big for us. He hit some big shots andmade some big defensive plays. It was huge for us tonight."

Jefferson led the team in scoring for the fifth time in as manygames with 25 points. He appeared to seal the outcome with athree-point play for an 85-79 cushion at 1:53, but the Wizardsscored six straight points - all on free throws - as CaronButler forged an 85-85 tie by sinking a pair with 39 secondsleft.


Carter misfired on a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession, butJefferson outjumped two Wizards for the rebound and was fouledwith 24 seconds to go. Jefferson sank both free throws, makinghim 12-of-12 from the line in the game and 46-of-47 this season.

The Wizards inbounded to Arenas, who raced downcourt but wasguarded tightly by Antoine Wright. Carter helped Wright crowdArenas in the right corner before getting a piece of Arenas'off-balance jumper in the final seconds.


"I was going for the win," Arenas said. "When I made my initialmove to go left, I should have just stayed left. It was a badshot."


"I got a fingertip on it," Carter said. "I just wanted tocontest it and make it as tough as possible because he iscapable of making shots like that."


Bostjan Nachbar scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarterand Jason Kidd had 10 assists and eight rebounds for the Nets,who host the Boston Celtics on Saturday.


Arenas started despite having fluid drained from his ailing leftknee on Wednesday morning. He had 21 points and six assistsbut made only four of his final 14 shots after a hot start.

Antawn Jamison had 24 points and nine rebounds and Butler added21, seven and seven steals for the Wizards, who have lost theirfirst four games for the first time since the 1992-93 season.

"It seems bad, but last year we were 4-9 at the beginning of theseason," Arenas said. "We just have to escape out of thismonth alive."


Arenas' performance mirrored the season for Washington, whichentered the game with the worst shooting percentage in theleague but made 7-of-10 shots while scoring 16 straight pointsearly in the first quarter.


Jamison made back-to-back baskets to give Washington its largestlead at 37-17 with 7:07 left in the second quarter before theWizards faded and the sluggish Nets finally came to life.

After scoring just 17 points in the game's first 19 minutes, NewJersey scored 19 of the next 21 in a span of 6:40 - led byseven from Carter. The Nets made 5-of-11 shots from the floorduring the spurt and their newfound aggressiveness showed up atthe free-throw line, where they were 9-of-11.


Meanwhile, Washington missed eight of its final nine shots inthe half and continued to struggle in the third, making only5-of-22 shots as New Jersey changed its defensive approach.

"They threw in a zone that did a good job against us. The zonewas the game-changer," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "Wehaven't worked against it enough to be comfortable with it."

"Our defense in the second half gave us a chance," Jeffersonsaid.


Carter missed his only two shots in the third quarter but made9-of-10 free throws and sank 1-of-2 with eight seconds left togive the Nets their first lead since 2-0.


Jamison scored nine points in the third, but his teammatesmanaged just eight on 2-of-16 shooting.