NBA Roundup: Nets beat Bucks 108-84; Raptors defeat Cavaliers 94-80 in rare win

Saturday, March 23rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Jason Kidd had 17 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds and the New Jersey Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 108-84 Friday night, tying a franchise record with their ninth straight home win.

Kerry Kittles added 15 of his 21 points during a game-breaking third quarter in which the Nets hit six 3-pointers and outscored the banged-up Bucks 36-14.

Nets tough guy Kenyon Martin, fresh from a meeting with league officials concerning flagrant foul calls against him, had 20 points. Keith Van Horn added 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Eastern Conference-leading Nets, playing before their fourth sellout crowd of the season, won for the fifth time in seven games.

``We were in a groove as a team,'' said Kittles. ``Everyone was feeding off each other. Guys felt good about shooting the ball, and it was going in.''

Sam Cassell had 18 points and Ray Allen added 16 for the Bucks, who lost their fourth straight and for the seventh time in nine games.

Raptors 94, Cavaliers 80

In Cleveland, after learning that Vince Carter will be lost for the season, the Toronto Raptors won for just the second time in 19 games, defeating Cleveland behind 18 points from Morris Peterson.

With the Raptors falling out of the playoff hunt, the team announced before the game that Carter will undergo knee surgery. The Raptors then lost backup point guard Chris Childs with a pelvic contusion.

Also, Raptors guard Alvin Williams rolled his right ankle and guard Dell Curry left with back spasms in the third quarter. Williams returned; Curry did not.

Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis each scored 14 points for Toronto. Wesley Person led Cleveland with 15 points.

76ers 96, Celtics 91

In Boston, the Philadelphia 76ers overcame the loss of Allen Iverson, who was taken for X-rays on his left hand at halftime, as Eric Snow and Derrick Coleman combined for 21 second-half points.

Iverson, the NBA scoring leader, played all 24 minutes in the first half but didn't return. He still led the 76ers with 22 points.

Speedy Claxton replaced Iverson in the lineup and energized the 76ers. Snow restored a four-point lead with a layup with 1:50 to go before Boston's Paul Pierce hit a free throw, closing the gap to 94-91 with 23 seconds remaining. But Snow finished off the victory with two free throws with 19 seconds left.

Snow scored 17 points, 12 in the second half. Coleman had 15, including 10 in the second half. Boston was led by Pierce with 26 points and Walker with 17.

Hornets 106, Magic 92

In Orlando, Florida, the Charlotte Hornets took advantage of an early injury to Orlando's Tracy McGrady to win their fifth straight game.

Jamal Mashburn had 29 points and David Wesley added 21, nine in the third quarter when Charlotte put the Magic away. The Hornets stay tied with Indiana for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

Troy Hudson scored 23 points for Orlando, while Darrell Armstrong added 22. Orlando had its six-game winning streak snapped and lost at home for the first time since Feb. 3.

McGrady suffered severe back spasms in the second quarter after being sandwiched by Charlotte's Robert Traylor and George Lynch on a drive. McGrady didn't move for several minutes, and emergency medical personnel gingerly lifted him into a stretcher and wheeled him off the court. McGrady was taken to Florida Hospital for an MRI exam and further evaluation.

Pacers 104, Heat 94

In Miami, Jermaine O'Neal scored 21 points and Ron Mercer, playing his longest stint since returning from the injured list, added 17.

Indiana remained tied with Charlotte for seventh place in the Eastern Conference, 3 1/2 games ahead of Miami. The Pacers have won five of their last six games and play host to the Hornets on Sunday.

The Heat lost for only the fourth time in their last 12 games but continued a disturbing trend. The Heat, who dropped their second straight home game, are one of only two teams with more victories on the road than at home.

Reggie Miller scored 20 points for the Pacers, including a 3-pointer late in the game that helped clinch it. Alonzo Mourning and Eddie Jones each scored 20 points, and Eddie House added 18 for Miami.

Trail Blazers 109, Bulls 93

In Chicago, Rasheed Wallace made three 3-pointers in a game-turning third quarter and finished with 19 points for Portland, which is an NBA-best 17-3 since the All-Star break. Derek Anderson added 16 and Dale Davis 14.

Eddy Curry and Jamal Crawford scored 18 apiece for the Bulls, who have lost 10 of their last 11.

Wallace made two straight 3-pointers to open the second half, and a pair of jumpers by Damon Stoudamire helped the Trail Blazers quickly expand an eight-point halftime lead to 15. The Blazers led 87-72 after three and coasted in the fourth, resting their starters.

SuperSonics 112, Rockets 82

In Seattle, Desmond Mason had 22 points and five assists and was one of five Seattle players in double figures.

Gary Payton had 20 points, nine assists and four rebounds, Brent Barry had 21 points and seven assists and Rashard Lewis scored 13 while playing with an injured left shoulder. Predrag Drobnjak added 10 points and 11 rebounds.

The Sonics, who lead the league in field-goal percentage, turned the game into a blowout early, shooting 65 percent in the first half.

The Rockets lost their fourth straight.

Lakers 94, Pistons 82

In Los Angeles, Shaquille O'Neal scored 28 points and Los Angeles beat Detroit to stop a two-game losing skid and end the Pistons' four-game winning streak.

O'Neal sat out much of the fourth quarter and watched with a white towel draped on his head before returning for the final five minutes to finish off the Lakers' eighth consecutive home victory.

The Pistons came into Staples Center with a 13-2 record in their last 15 road games. But Detroit led only once and didn't get closer than seven points in the fourth quarter.

Jerry Stackhouse led the Pistons with 21 points, and Clifford Robinson and Corliss Williamson had 17 points each.