MIAMI: Jason Kidd collected 22 points, nine rebounds and seven assists as New Jersey made Miami look ordinary in cruising to a 100-88 win in the opener of their Eastern Conference semi-final series.
Vince Carter scored 27 points and Richard Jefferson added 20 in slightly more than a half for third-seeded New Jersey, which was swept by the Heat in the first round a year ago but wasted no time letting them know that this will be a different series. “You don’t win or lose a series in Game One, but this is certainly a very big win,” Jefferson said.
Considered a challenger for the NBA title, second-seeded Miami struggled at times as it needed six games to dispatch Chicago in the first round.
Miami should be very concerned about this loss, its first at home in the post-season. The Heat’s inability to defend the perimeter was evident as they allowed 64 points in the first half, matching the most in franchise playoff history. Kidd and Jefferson ran wild, scoring 17 points each.
Miami committed nine turnovers in the first quarter. Two were offensive fouls in the first five minutes by O’Neal, who sat for the rest of the first quarter. In another match, Phoenix Suns beat LA Clippers 130-123.
