EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Kenyon Martin of the New Jersey
Nets seems determined to show he shouldn't have been passed over
for the NBA All-Star game.
Martin had a career-high 35 points, 12 rebounds and blocked a
shot late in regulation that gave Jason Kidd the opportunity to hit
a 3-pointer with 1:31 left in overtime in a 109-108 win over the
Seattle SuperSonics on Monday night.
"I think that he's showing he's an All-Star in this league,''
Kidd said after the Nets improved to 22-2 at home. "He'll get his
time when his name is called. Right now, I'm going to campaign for
him to be on the Olympic team.''
In the four games since the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves
were picked by the coaches, Martin has averaged 26.5 points and
15.3 rebounds.
"I told the guys I am going to go out and destroy everybody, no
matter who it is,'' Martin said of his recent tear, which included
a last-second block of Rashard Lewis' shot at the end of
regulation.
For all Martin did, and all the attention on the point-guard
matchup between Kidd and Gary Payton -- both of whom will be free
agents after this season -- the game was decided by Seattle's
Desmond Mason.
After scoring 10 of the SuperSonics' final 12 points in
regulation, Mason was designated to take Seattle's final shot in
overtime after scoring 30 points on 13-for-24 shooting.
Mason got an open look off an inbounds play on shot No. 25. The
3-point attempt hit the back of the rim and bounced out at the
buzzer in a disheartening loss for Seattle, which rallied from a
17-point deficit in the second half.
"It felt good when it left my hands,'' Mason said. "It was the
best shot you could possibly get. I had no one on me. It just
didn't fall.''
Kidd finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds, winning his
matchup with Payton, who had 12 points and seven assists.
Lewis added 25 points and eight rebounds for Seattle.
Kidd gave the Nets a 109-106 lead with his 3-pointer with 1:31
to go, and then the game got a little spotty.
After a turnover by Seattle, Martin had a shot blocked
underneath.
Former Nets guard Kenny Anderson got Seattle within a point with
a driving layup with 30.4 seconds to play.
Kidd missed a long 3-pointer with 10.2 seconds to go, and then
things got interesting.
Coming out of a timeout, Lewis appeared to have a layup off an
inbounds play, but Lucious Harris provided weakside help and batted
the ball out of bounds with 4.7 seconds to go.
On the ensuing inbounds play, Richard Jefferson gave a foul just
before Payton hit what would have been a go-ahead baseline jumper
with 3.4 seconds left.
"I thought I was in the motion when he grabbed me by the
waist,'' said Payton, who also missed a shot with 20 seconds left
in regulation. "That's a judgment call.''
Seattle set up a third time and Mason got an open look, but his
shot bounced off the rim.
"Right now things are not going our way,'' Payton said.
"Hopefully, we'll come back in the second half and things will go
our way.''
Seattle beat New Jersey earlier this season on a 3-pointer by
Brent Barry in the final seconds.
After trailing by as many as 17 points early in the third
quarter, Seattle got back in the game with a 15-3 spurt that
spanned the end of the third and the start of the fourth.
Game notes
The Sonics are 0-9 when they give up 100 points. ... The
Nets' 65 points in the first half was a season high. ... Nets F
Rodney Rogers, on the injured list, made the biggest play of the
night, protecting Kidd's son, T.J., when New Jersey forward Aaron
Williams fell into the seats behind the bench. ... Barry returned
to the lineup after missing four games with a sore knee and played
in his 500th NBA game. ... New Jersey is 25-4 when leading after
the first quarter.