INDIANAPOLIS (AP) New Jersey coach Byron Scott was sure the
Nets would end an 11-game road losing streak long before the final
buzzer.
A 41-foot 3-pointer by Johnny Newman at the end of the third
quarter gave Scott confidence.
Stephon Marbury scored 25 points to lead five New Jersey players
in double figures as the Nets defeated the Indiana Pacers 120-96
Sunday.
"When he hit that one, I pretty much felt we can't lose this
game, the way we're playing," said Scott.
"That shot to me was the indication that we were going to come
out in the fourth quarter and hit some more shots, and keep running
the offense as smoothly as we were running it."
Marbury also had 10 assists, while Keith Van Horn and Newman
each had 23 points. Kenyon Martin finished with 19.
"Martin, having another person who can score, it makes it a lot
harder to double team, and his man coming off of him and onto me,
that helps me a lot," Marbury said. "Having him scoring is a plus
for the team."
The Nets, held to a season-low 64 points and 28 percent shooting
in their last game at Indiana, shot 51 percent against the league's
best defense. Opponents were shooting just 42 percent against the
Pacers.
The Nets, whose last road victory came at Atlanta on Jan. 15,
pulled away quickly. Indiana made only 26 percent of its shots
(5-for-19) in the first quarter as the Nets built a 29-16 lead, with
Martin scoring 12 points.
"We just executed on offense, and on defense we limited them to
one shot," Marbury said.
New Jersey led 61-46 at halftime and survived a second-half run
to win at Indiana for the first time since Dec. 29, 1996, a span of
seven games.
"Steph did a great job of just directing guys and leading us.
That's what I've been talking about. He did a fabulous job," Scott
said.
Reggie Miller, who had nine points on 2-for-10 shooting from the
field in the first half, scored 15 of his 24 in the third quarter.
Two free throws by Miller left Indiana trailing 78-71 with 3:06
remaining in the quarter. The Nets responded with a 14-4 run to
close it.
Aaron Williams muscled his way to a pair of shots underneath to
ignite the run and, as the period ended, he intercepted a pass and
got the ball to Newman, whose 41-footer from behind the midcourt
line was good.
Jalen Rose and Austin Croshere each scored 17 for Indiana. In
the first half the Nets held Rose and Miller to 5-for-20 shooting
from the field.
"We played great defense. We helped each other and coach told
us at the beginning of the game, it was going to be one-on-five
against Reggie," Marbury said. "If you don't help off the screens
against him, he can really get going."
The Pacers held a team meeting after the game.
"Not to discredit New Jersey by any means, but this was a total
disgrace. There's no excuse to be made," Rose said. "We need some
soul searching from some guys who are approaching the situation
like they are better than they really are."
Game notes
Miller has scored 20 or more points in seven consecutive
games, averaging nearly 25.6 in the run. ... The Nets entered the
game shooting 42 percent from the field. ... Reserve Jeff Foster
scored 11 points and also received five stitches on his chin at
halftime after getting hit by Marbury's elbow. He returned in the
second half and finished with his first double-double of the
season, grabbing 11 rebounds ... Marbury increased his assist total
with the Nets to 1,301. ... Travis Best played for the first time
after missing two games with a strained lower back and came off the
bench to record 10 points and 11 assists, his 12th double-double of
the season.