KMAX: Sports

Nets 109, Warriors 97

By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) The New Jersey Nets have gotten over their post All-Star break slump. Now they have to worry about power forward Kenyon Martin.

Martin sprained his right knee in the third quarter of the Nets' 109-97 win over Golden State on Saturday night, leaving his status in doubt with the playoffs three weeks away.

Martin, the team's second leading scorer and the top rebounder, is scheduled to have an MRI on Sunday.

``He is our emotional leader,'' Nets coach Byron Scott said. ``Defensively, at that position, there is nobody better. Offensively, he was playing extremely well, and had put it all together, and the scary part is that he is going to get better.''

Martin was hurt when he came down awkwardly after being fouled on a drive to the basket in the third quarter.

``Things happen but the guys played great,'' said Martin, who had 13 points and seven rebounds in 23 minutes. ``They did the job. They stepped up. When we needed to play well, we did. When I went down, the guys realized what was at stake. They kept it going.''

New Jersey, coming off back-to-back wins over New York, did it on both ends of the floor after Martin was hurt.

Jason Kidd had 22 points, 13 assists, seven rebounds and five steals, and the Nets held Golden State to two baskets in the final 6:30 in posting their first three-game winning streak since the All-Star break.

``This team is just starting to turn it around and play the way we did just before the All-Star break,'' Kidd said. ``We have to continue to work hard.''

Richard Jefferson added 22 points, Aaron Williams had 14 off the bench and Jason Collins had 13 including nine of the Nets' final 12 points.

Dikembe Mutombo returned to the Nets lineup after missing 56 games with a wrist injury. He looked rusty, failing to score in five minutes and grabbing just one rebound.

Antawn Jamison had 28 points to lead the Warriors, who missed 11 straight shots after Jamison converted a three-point play to get the Warriors to 91-87.

``We have to fight, we have seven or eight more games to go and we have to play like our life is on the line,'' Jamison said.

Jason Richardson added 20 points, Gilbert Arenas had 19 and Erick Dampier added 12 points and 11 rebounds for Golden State, which was playing its fourth road game in five nights.

``The good looks we had in the first half weren't falling for us in the fourth quarter,'' Arenas said. ``Maybe it was because of fatigue, but we're trying to make the playoffs so we have to look past that next time.''

The Nets put the game away during the Warriors' cold spell.

Kerry Kittles, who twisted an ankle in the second quarter, scored on a fast break to give New Jersey 93-89 lead with 3:56 to play. Jefferson extended the lead to six points on a layup with 3:09 to go.

The margin only grew after that.

After falling behind by as many as eight points early in the third quarter, Golden State eventually tied it at 74 on a three-point play by Jamison with 1:39 left.

Despite shooting 62.5 percent from the field in the first half, the Warriors trailed 55-49. Their problem was 14 turnovers which led to 15 Nets' points.

Kidd got the last two at the final buzzer, stealing the ball from Arenas at midcourt and racing for a layup.< ^Notes:@ Kittles hurt his ankle stepping on the foot of official George Toliver. ... The Warriors shot 41.8 percent for the game. ....Golden State had only six turnovers in the second half. ... The Nets are 30-7 at home, marking the second straight season they have won 30 at home.

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