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Nets Can't Come Back From Another Bad Start

Friday night started out just like the previous two games out West, with the Nets (playing without Vince Carter) shooting poorly and trailing the Blazers by as many as 16 points in the first half at the Rose Garden. Portland built the lead up to 20 early in the third quarter, but this time, the Nets climbed back. They cut it down to nine by the end of the third and used pressure defense to make it a two point game with less than a minute to play. Jason Kidd then missed a three to take the lead and another to tie it in that final minute and the Blazers put the game away with free throws. Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 23 points and 10 rebounds, while Kidd added 18 points and 8 assists and Clifford Robinson came off the bench for 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting. The Nets got very little production from anyone else however, and Lawrence Frank only went eight deep in his rotation. A combination of 17 turnovers and a 26-point performance from Juan Dixon were the keys in New Jersey's sixth loss in their last seven road games.