New Jersey Nets/Charlotte Hornets NBA recap on ESPN

"We got the monkey off our back," coach Paul Silas said. "There's nothing like a win to get you back on track. This was an important game as far as getting our confidence back on track."

Elden Campbell scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half to lead the Hornets.

Campbell, who shot 6-for-9 from the field and 10-of-11 from the line, scored 15 of his points in the third quarter.

Campbell, who scored 20 or more points for the third straight game, credited his production to his warmup routine. Instead of randomly taking shots before the game, Campbell said he is shooting quick jumpers from various spots on the floor while trying to hit four in a row.

"At first, I was just doing it to get loose, but I broke a sweat the first time I did it and it got me into a pretty good rhythm," Campbell said. "Now my shots are falling and I'm looking for jumpers a little bit more during the game instead of always trying to take it to the basket."

Campbell scored nine straight points in a 12-6 third-quarter run that gave the Hornets a 67-53 lead. He sparked Charlotte by making three jumpers -- one from 16 feet -- and three free throws.

"Elden has been working hard and it's really beginning to show," Silas said. "He's taking it strong to the hoop, not fading away, and he's been making his free throws. That bodes well for us as we begin the postseason."

Reserve Eddie Robinson scored 18 points for Charlotte. Baron Davis scored 16, Jamal Mashburn 12 and P.J. Brown had 12 rebounds.

The only Hornet to have an off night was guard David Wesley, who was scoreless on 0-for-13 shooting.

Former Net Scott Burrell, signed Tuesday by the Hornets after sitting out all season following knee surgery, scored five points in 12 minutes for Charlotte. He made the first shot he attempted -- a 19-foot jumper in the second quarter.

Burrell, a first-round draft pick by Charlotte in 1993, received a loud ovation from the fans when he checked into the game. He was the last player in the locker room afterward because so many fans stayed around the court asking for autographs.

"I felt pretty good being out there," Burrell said. "I'm a little winded, but that's going to come. But I got a little confidence back and that was good because I wasn't sure where I was."

Johnny Newman led New Jersey with 16 points. Keith Van Horn had 14 points and 11 rebounds.

The Hornets controlled the first half and held a 45-32 lead at the break, only to open the third quarter with one of their familiar collapses.

Part of Charlotte's problem in its recent slump has been coming out flat in the second half. The Hornets did it again against the Nets.

Newman hit consecutive 3-pointers in a 14-8 run to pull the Nets within 53-46 with 6:26 to play in the period.

Charlotte took a timeout, then turned up its intensity behind Campbell and the Nets couldn't recover.

"We need to understand that if we're going to beat teams, we need to exceed their energy level," Van Horn said. "I felt we matched Charlotte's energy tonight but we didn't exceed it."

Game notes
Charlotte forward Derrick Coleman didn't play and the box score listed it as a "Coach's Decision." Coleman did not participate in the pregame shootaround, and stood along the sideline swinging his arms during the halftime shootaround. ... New Jersey's Stephen Jackson did not play because of a sore right foot. ... The Hornets presented team physician Glenn Perry his Olympic ring at halftime. Perry served as doctor for the U.S. team in Sydney last summer.

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RECAPS
Charlotte 88
New Jersey 78

Milwaukee 115
Utah 93

Orlando 101
Philadelphia 77

Sacramento 107
San Antonio 105

Portland 100
Vancouver 87

LA Lakers 119
Minnesota 102

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