Nets Cut Down Warriors

The New Jersey Nets did what they could to put the worst start in franchise history behind them.

Johnny Newman and Keith Van Horn each scored 22 points as the Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Golden State Warriors 92-84 Wednesday night. It was only their second victory in 12 games this season.

"It was a real gutty win for us," Nets coach Don Casey said. "It was a real strong game and an important one. If we had stumbled at the end, it would have been devastating. It's a relief for all of us. I was starting to hyperventilate. We got quality minutes out of everybody."

"We've got a long way to go," Van Horn said. "This feels good and we've got a lot to build on. It is a long season and hopefully, this is one of many. I know it's up us to go out and do it. We're going to be in every game."

Reserve Tony Farmer led the Warriors with 19 points. Antawn Jamison added 12 points but was just 5-of-18 from the field.

Golden State (2-8) was coming off a tense, emotional loss Saturday night to the New York Knicks that pitted Latrell Sprewell against coach P.J. Carlesimo for the first time since the star guard choked him two years ago.

The Warriors appeared a step behind the Nets all night and they shot just 37 percent from the field, while the Nets made 43 percent.

"When you are playing as poorly as we are playing right now, you could have over 18 reasons why we are playing bad," Carlesimo said. "We just are not a ver good team right now. We need to take a look in the mirror and start playing harder to find our way out of this."

The Warriors' problems were epitomized by John Starks, who made only 4 of 19 shots from the field.

"I haven't been shooting the ball well the last four or five games," Starks said. "I'm a shooting guard. The only way for me to get out of this slump I'm in is to continue shooting. I'm not going to hold back."

The Nets pulled ahead 78-68 when Van Horn made a pair of free throws with 7:05 remaining but the Warriors then went on a 7-0 burst, pulling to 78-75 on Adonal Foyle's three-point play.

Van Horn and Marbury cut off the Warriors rally. Van Horn hit a 12-foot jumper and Marbury converted a four-point play, hitting a 3-pointer despite Starks' foul and then making the free throw to boost the lead back to 84-75 with 4:02 left.

The Warriors didn't threaten the rest of the way.

Golden State trailed 51-45 at halftime, but opened the second half with seven straight points, capped by Foyle's slam, for a 52-51 lead.

Jamie Feick hit a 19-foot jumper and Newman sank a 3-pointer to put the Nets back in front. After Newman hit a baseline jumper and Marbury made one of two free throws, New Jersey led 64-58 before the Warriors scored the final five points of the third period, pulling within one heading into the final quarter.

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