Marbury Carries Nets By Wizards

May 2, 1999 / 12:59 AM EDT / CBS/AP

Two teams which have been out of playoff contention for quite a while got some guard play worthy of the postseason.

Stephon Marbury scored 32 points and Kerry Kittles added a season-high 31 Saturday night as the New Jersey Nets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 102-91 victory over the Washington Wizards.

Mitch Richmond had 34 points and Rod Strickland added 27 for Washington, which lost its 11th straight road game.

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"It was definitely a show of the guards but right now that is the strength of both teams," Washington interim coach Jim Brovelli said. "We dug ourselves a hole early and it's always tough to come back when you get down like that early."

Kittles and Marbury combined for 39 points in the first half as the Nets took a 58-42 lead.

The Nets trailed 12-3 when they went on a 26-9 run to take the lead for good. Kittles had nine points in the burst and Marbury added seven.

"It was good to see Kerry have a big game but the difference might have been that we kept all their other guys in single figures," New Jersey interim coach Don Casey said.

After Washington pulled within 44-38 with four minutes to play in the second quarter, the Nets closed the half with a 14-4 spurt for the 16-point halftime lead. Marbury had eight points in the run and Kittles six.

"It was just a good night overall," Kittles said. "I found my rhythm early. I was looking for my shot and I got hot."

"When you hit your first couple of shots it gives you confidence and that's what happened tonight. You always want to finish strong as a team and as an individual."

After trailing by as many as 22 points early in the third quarter the Wizards closed within 75-64 at the end of the period.

But Kittles scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter as part of an 11-2 run that gve New Jersey an 86-66 lead.

Mark Hendrickson added 14 points for the Nets.

Notes: Nets forward Scott Burrell had successful arthroscopic surgery for removal of cartilage in his right knee Friday and is expected to begin rehabilitation Monday. ... The Nets and Wizards play again Monday in Washington. ... Referees Don Vaden, Ronnie Nunn and David Jones wore miniature transmitters on their belts that stopped (on the sound of the whistle) and started (push of a button) the game clock. The system has been used in college games but it was the first time it was used in an NBA game. ... Nets GM John Nash said the club still has an interest in 7-foot-7 Gheorghe Muresan.