RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- With the New Jersey Nets shooting lights out in the first quarter, the Charlotte Hornets knew their best defense was to try to survive the onslaught.
Not only did the Hornets get by, they shut down the Nets the
final three quarters, got 30 points from David Wesley and defeated New Jersey 98-87 on Saturday night.
"We knew in the first quarter we had to weather the storm," Hornets coach Paul Silas said. "We felt if we stayed close we had a chance."
New Jersey opened the game by hitting 10 of its first 11 shots,
and 15 of 22 (68 percent) in the quarter, building a 32-24 lead.
After that, the Hornets defense limited the Nets to 17-of-58
shooting from the field -- 29 percent.
The performance wasn't surprising. The Hornets are a team loaded
with veterans that know how to handle games on consecutive nights.
The Nets, who beat the Bulls in Chicago on Friday, fizzled after
their opening burst.
"At the start of the game they definitely had the energy,"
Hornets forward P.J. Brown said. "We could have let this one go,
but it shows the character of this team.
"I think the toughest part of the NBA is the second game of those back to backs," he added. "It's as tough mentally as it is physically."
Baron Davis added 20 points and Otis Thorpe, who had two points
in 36 minutes in the Hornets' first three games, had six of his
eight when Charlotte took control and won for the third time in
four games.
Stephon Marbury hit his first eight shots and scored 33 points
for the second straight night for the Nets. Kendall Gill added 16,
but no one else on the team contributed much. Top draft pick Kenyon
Martin continued to struggle with his shooting, hitting 4 of 14
shots.
"They got tougher after the first quarter," Nets coach Byron Scott said. "They got more aggressive, more physical. We got some open looks in the second half, but we couldn't knock them down. It's a veteran team, they turned the screw a little."
Charlotte was back in the game by halftime, and it took the lead
for good when Thorpe hit a jumper at the end of the third quarter
and a tip-in to start the fourth for a 74-70 lead.
New Jersey never got closer than two points the rest of the way.
The Hornets blew the game open with a 12-2 spurt that Wesley
started with a jumper. The run included consecutive 3-pointers by
Davis, Jamal Mashburn and Wesley, with the last raising the lead to
96-82 with 2:50 to play.
Wesley shot 11-of-18 from the field, including 2-of-3 from
3-point range.
"After the first quarter, we felt all we needed was one run and
the game was ours," Wesley said.
Game notes
Nets rookie Stephen Jackson dunked in the third quarter and
kicked the ball into the stands as it came through the basket. ...
With assistant coach Mike O'Koren screaming "illegal," referee
Dan Crawford broke up the Nets' bench with a sarcastic "thank
you." He called it though. ... Former Nets coach Butch Beard
attended the game as a guest of Silas. ... Charlotte outrebounded
New Jersey 44-33 with Jamaal Magliore getting 10...The Nets are
winless in two games at home this season...Martin is shooting 11 of
36 from the field this season.
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NBA Scoreboard
Charlotte Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
LA Lakers 98
Vancouver 89
Indiana 94
Chicago 81
Toronto 103
Washington 96
Orlando 107
Atlanta 104
Cleveland 91
Boston 89
Philadelphia 84
Miami 82
Utah 112
Dallas 106
Minnesota 99
Sacramento 91
Charlotte 98
New Jersey 87
Milwaukee 97
Detroit 88
Phoenix 102
Denver 99
Portland 97
Seattle 90
San Antonio 117
Golden State 105
LA Clippers 77
Houston 74
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