CLEVELAND. – The New Jersey Nets staved off elimination with
an 83-72 road victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the win
pulling them back to 2-3 in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.
Jason Kidd had 20 points, nine rebounds and six assists for
the Nets, who led by 22 points in the third quarter. Vince Carter added 12
points and 10 assists.
LeBron James topped the Cavaliers with 20 points but made
only five of 14 shots.
New Jersey scored just six points in the fourth quarter,
making one field goal and four free throws, but had a big enough cushion to
hang on for the win.
Game Six of the best-of-seven series is in New Jersey on
Friday (Saturday in Manila).
SPURS 88, SUNS 85
In Phoenix, the San Antonio Spurs edged the depleted Suns
88-85 on Wednesday to take a 3-2 lead in their Western Conference semifinal
series.
Bruce Bowen snapped an 81-81 tie with a key three-pointer
with 36 seconds remaining and the Spurs, who were behind for much of the game,
never trailed again.
Game 6 is in San Antonio on Friday.
Manu Ginobili rallied the Spurs with 22 of his 26 points in
the second half. He had 13 in the fourth quarter, when the Spurs overcame an
11-point Phoenix lead.
Tim Duncan added 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Shawn Marion led the short-handed Suns with 24 points and 17
rebounds. Steve Nash had 19 points and 12 assists.
Phoenix dominated much of the game despite playing without
standout Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw. The two were suspended for the game
for leaving the bench area following a flagrant foul by the Spurs’ Robert Horry
on Steve Nash in the closing seconds of Phoenix’s Game 4 win.
Horry was suspended for Games 5 and 6.
"We didn’t probably have enough juice to get over the hump,"
Suns coach Mike D’Antoni said.
"This was just about trying to gut it out."
