EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey, 14 November 2003 — Tim Duncan scored 31 points and added 12 assists as the defending champions San Antonio Spurs easily defeated the New Jersey Nets 85-71 in the NBA on Wednesday night.
Duncan’s big night overshadowed a triple-double by New Jersey’s Jason Kidd as the Spurs easily won the first meeting of the season between last year’s NBA finalists.
Duncan shot 12-of-19 from the field as the Spurs look to be finding the form that made them NBA champions last season as their injured players work their way back into the line-up.
Tony Parker, playing just his second game of the season, added 17 points for San Antonio.
Manu Ginobili chipped in with 12 points and eight rebounds for the Spurs, who had Duncan and Parker in the line-up for just the second time this season.
Kidd had 14 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists for the Nets, who trailed by 16 points at the half.
Kenyon Martin returned to the New Jersey lineup for the first time since Oct. 31 and added 14 points and 10 rebounds.
Just 13,286 fans took in the game at the Meadowlands.
Heat 88 Cavaliers 83
In Miami, Eddie Jones scored 25 points as the Heat won for the first time this season, downing the Cleveland Cavaliers 88-83.
Lamar Odom added 14 points and 10 assists for the winners, who became the last team in the NBA to win a game (1-7).
Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 20 points for Cleveland, while Carlos Boozer hauled down 16 rebounds and LeBron James scored 18 points.
Grizzlies 107 Magic 97
In Orlando, Pau Gasol had 28 points as the Memphis Grizzlies handed the Orlando Magic their seventh straight loss, 107-97.
James Posey had 24 points for Memphis, which is 4-4 this season, tying for the best start in franchise history.
Tracy McGrady had a season-high 36 points for Orlando, but just two in the pivotal fourth quarter.
Bulls 89 Celtics 82
In Boston, Jalen Rose had 20 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to their third road win of the season, an 89-82 decision over the Boston Celtics.
Chicago was 3-38 on the road last season, but is 3-1 away from home already this year.
Eddy Curry added 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Bulls.
Mike James had 18 points to lead Boston.
SuperSonics 104 Bucks 99
In Milwaukee, Rashard Lewis had 31 points and nine rebounds to lead the Seattle SuperSonics over the Milwaukee Bucks 104-99.
Vladimir Radmanovic added 22 points and eight rebounds for the Sonics, who are 3-0 on the road.
Ronald Murray chipped in with 20 points.
Michael Redd and Toni Kukoc both had 20 points for Milwaukee.
Hornets 96 Jazz 89
In New Orleans, Baron Davis had 23 points and nine assists to lead the Hornets past the Utah Jazz 96-89.
David Wesley added 17 points for the Hornets, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Matt Harpring led Utah (4-4) with 20 points, as the Jazz lost their fourth road game in as many contests.
Hawks 99 Suns 94
In Phoenix, Dion Glover scored 23 points to help the Atlanta Hawks win in Phoenix for the first time in nearly 12 years, 99-94 over the Suns.
Stephen Jackson added 18 points for Atlanta, while Jason Terry chipped in with 17.
Stephon Marbury and Shawn Marion both scored 22 points for the Suns, who lost for the first time in three games.
Lakers 94 Raptors 79
In Los Angeles, Shaquille O’Neal had 23 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a 94-79 win over the Toronto Raptors.
Kobe Bryant added 19 points for the Lakers, who snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 6-2.
Karl Malone added 17 for Los Angeles.
Vince Carter scored 23 points for Toronto, now winless (0-4) on the road.
Warriors 87 Pistons 85 (OT)
In Oakland, Calbert Cheaney scored 24 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to an 87-85 overtime win over the Detroit Pistons.
Erick Dampier added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Warriors, who handed the Pistons their first overtime loss in almost two years.
Chauncey Billups had 19 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds for Detroit, which was 8-0 in overtime last season.
