Begin with a slow start. Then mix in a lack of energy, a handful of careless turnovers and a few offensive droughts. Hold the key stops and you have the perfect recipe for a Nets home game this season. Friday, it was the Houston Rockets who were the beneficiaries of the Nets' IZOD ineptness. They took an early double-digit lead behind the hot shooting of Tracy McGrady, led by 15 at halftime, and were never threatened after that. The Nets shot 43 percent from the field, committed 17 turnovers, and only got to the line 14 times. Vince Carter had 32 points and Richard Jefferson added 29, while Jason Kidd finished with 10 points, seven boards and seven assists in his return to action. With Boki Nachbar's 10 points, the top four scorers accounted for 80 of the team's 89 points. In a post-game interview, Jefferson called the Nets' string of double-digit deficits a "joke" and said it was the starters' fault.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Yao, McGrady lead Rockets to easy victory over Nets - Brian Mahoney - AP
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Nets take another sick day at home - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
- Chronic headache - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Kidd Is Slow to Start in Return, as Are the Nets - Bill Finley - New York Times
- Nets ripped by Rockets, then Richard Jefferson takes his turn - Julian Garcia - New York Daily News
- Nets' struggles a major headache - Al Iannazzone - YES Network
- Post Game Plus (Video) - Bob Lorenz - YES Network
- Courtside Chatter (Video) - Ian Eagle & Mark Jackson - YES Network
- Jason Kidd Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
- Kidd returns but Nets lose to Rockets - Al Iannazzone - The Record
- Nets lose despite Kidd's return - Sports Ticker
- Rockets foil Kidd, Nets in Jersey - Jonathan Feigen - Houston Chronicle
- Rockets at the quarter pole - Jonathan Feigen - Houston Rockets
- Team offers best long-range shooting of season - Jonathan Feigen - Houston Chronicle
- Another Bad Home Loss - Joe - Joe Netsfan
- Photo Gallery: New Jersey Nets vs. Houston Rockets - Bill Kostroun - AP