Knicks 79 – Nets 65
Jason Kidd never looked so good to the Knicks – harmless in a light gray suit, white dress shirt, open collar.
Suddenly, the Nets don’t look so scary a first-round opponent. The celebrated Stephon Marbury-Kidd matchup never materialized as Kidd was placed on the injured list and could miss the rest of the regular season and may not even be full strength for the first round, according to sources.
With Kenyon Martin (knee) joining Kidd on the sidelines, the Knicks made like old, old times, methodically battering the Nets 79-65 at the Garden, breaking a five-game losing streak against their Jersey nemesis.
The Knicks, winning their third straight, didn’t need Allan Houston, who missed his 20th game with a bruised quadriceps and is likely out tonight in Chicago.
Put an asterisk on the win if you want, but there’s hardly an assurance Kidd, whose injury is still being called a “bruised bone” in his knee, will be right. The only Kidd who got any work done last night was Joumana, who was in the post-game scrum in the Knicks’ locker room, doing an NBA-TV feature on Tim Thomas.
The win put the Knicks in sixth place with Cleveland, but finishing seventh and taking on the No. 2 Nets in the first round is no longer a terrible thought with Kidd’s uncertain status.
“They’re definitely a different team but no matter who plays, this was a win we can still hold up our head up high,” Houston said.
“No excuses,” said Nets coach Lawrence Frank, whose club had won 11 of its last 12 against the Knicks.
This time, Isiah Thomas did his talking before the game when he told The Post he believes Kidd and Marbury are the “two best point guards in the league.”
Indeed Marbury lived up to Isiah’s hyperbole. Marbury had an extra spring to his step, but too bad it was wasted on Lucious Harris, forced into starting point-guard duty. Marbury, lightning-quick to the hole, notched 21 points with nine assists.
“They’re still a good team,” Marbury said. “After the last game [an OT victory] against Washington), that’s not the way you want to win. The last few days have made a big difference because we’ve gotten to know each other as people.”
Marbury notched seven assists in the opening 11 minutes when they took control, often finding Thomas, whose adjustment is complete. Thomas scored 16 points with seven boards. Center Nazr Mohammed pitched in 14 points and 10 rebounds in a 54-37 board slaughter. Mike Sweetney, with fans chanting “Sweet”, grabbed another six boards in 14 minutes.
Thomas, who grew up in Paterson, N.J., always rooted always for the Knicks.
“They could’ve had me,” said Thomas, selected by the Nets