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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- It was a perfect return for Keith
Van Horn and the New Jersey Nets, and a very bad exit for Dave
Cowens and his Golden State Warriors.
|  | | Keith Van Horn made 8 of 16 shots in 24 minutes of action before fouling out Saturday in his return from a broken leg. |
Van Horn scored 19 points in his first game since breaking his
left leg in October and the Nets defeated Golden State 97-92 on
Saturday night, taking over after Cowens was ejected late in the
third quarter.
"I feel great, that's the best way to describe it," Van Horn
said after hitting 8 of 16 shots in 24 minutes before fouling out.
"To come back and help your team, which has been struggling, win,
makes it all worth while."
Kenyon Martin had 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and
Stephon Marbury, who sat when the Nets took control, added 22.
Marc Jackson had 29 points and Antawn Jamison added 27 and 15
rebounds for the Warriors, who dressed only nine players because of
injuries.
Van Horn looked smooth playing for the first time since breaking
his leg in a preseason game against Orlando on Oct. 17.
"I was surprised how well he played," Nets guard Kendall Gill
said. "He looked like his old self. He gave us a real lift. When
he walked on the court, the whole team felt more confident."
There was a momentary concern with 3:26 left in the fourth
quarter when he appeared in pain and asked out of the game.
"The only time it hurt was when I came down and tried to push
off," Van Horn said. "But the pain subsided and I went right back
in."
Cowens didn't have the same opportunity after being hit with two
quick technical fouls by official George Toliver with the teams
coming out of a timeout with 1:09 left in the third quarter.
Cowens had no idea why Toliver called the first technical.
"I was talking to my coach about the game," Cowens said.
"Totally uncalled for. I wasn't talking to him. I wasn't even
contesting anything. I was talking to my coach about the game."
Golden State, which was playing its second game in as many
nights, led 67-63 when Cowens was ejected. But the Warriors went
into a funk after the ejection and never recovered in seeing its
third-game road winning streak end.
"It kind of affected us a little bit," Warriors point guard
Mookie Blaylock said. "It threw us off a little bit, where we
questioned what we were going to do. I think overall we didn't come
out and finish the ballgame."
Larry Hughes hit a floater in the lane to give Golden State a
73-72 lead 9:52 to go, but the Nets went on an 11-2 spurt with
Martin, the top pick in the draft, scoring nine for an 83-75 edge
with 6:09 to play.
"Having Keith in there takes a lot of pressure off of Kenyon,"
Marbury said. "He doesn't have to be a post-up offensive player.
He can be an energy player and go after loose balls and rebounds."
Golden State nibbled at the deficit over the next five-plus
minutes and got within 93-90 on a layup by Jamison with 33.5
seconds to go.
Marbury then hit four straight free throws to wrap up the game.
Van Horn entered the game with 4:25 left in the first quarter
with the Nets trailing 23-14. It didn't take him long to get going.
He scored underneath and hit a 3-pointer in less than 90 seconds
and he finished with eight points in his initial six-minute stint.
Game notes
Warriors rookie Chris Porter was sent home after spraining
his left ankle on Friday. Adam Keefe replaced him in the starting
lineup. ... Nets backup center Jim McIlvaine (back) dressed for the
first time in four games. ... The win was the Nets third in their
last 11 games and it ended a four-game losing streak at home ... It
marked the first time in six games the Warriors scored fewer than
100 points. ... New Jersey has won five straight against Golden
State, dating to the 1997-98 season.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Golden State Clubhouse
New Jersey Clubhouse
RECAPS
Dallas 103
Washington 85
Atlanta 83
Orlando 82
Philadelphia 107
Cleveland 103
Miami 112
Boston 86
New Jersey 97
Golden State 92
Utah 99
Houston 97
San Antonio 108
Detroit 101
FROM
ATHLETESDIRECT
Antawn Jamison Official Site
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