His talents have somehow soured efforts like this one. The standard sits so high for Jason Kidd that last night’s 13-point, seven-rebound, seven-assist performance looks subpar, particularly in a 91-87 home loss to Portland.
A cold Kidd acquired in the last two days slowed him last night, and the strain of last weekend’s road trip – maybe his best two-game stretch as a Net – appeared to wear on him as well.
“I felt a little sick, but that had no effect on the game,” said Kidd, who played 41 minutes, including all 24 after halftime. “I was fine.”
Kidd’s approaching the point where something will always appear wrong, save the nights he records a triple-double, the ideal NBA outing.
He’s done it 56 times in his career, six this season, and twice in consecutive games over the weekend – 24 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists Friday in Detroit, then 16 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists the next night in Indiana.
He became the first player to record triple doubles in back-to-back games since he turned the trick four years ago this month. His six in 2003 give him the league lead – by five over all his peers.
And the 56 over his career leave him fifth on the all-time list, trailing Hall of Famers Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson and Oscar Robertson.
His jump shot flat and falling short, Kidd struggled early and yielded the point guard spot to Robert Pack for seven minutes in the second quarter.
With 1:07 left in the game and his team nine down, Kidd had eight points. But the Nets leader rallied himself and his team, nearly stealing a victory.
He sank two free throws. He forced an errant Damon Stoudamire pass. He fed Richard Jefferson in transition for a dunk. He pulled up and drained a three-pointer to cut Portland’s lead to 89-87 with 10.3 seconds remaining. But last night, the tired and sick Kidd’s seemingly sour game couldn’t deliver a win.