It was a fairly tight game through the first half. The Spurs held an 8-point lead with a little under five minutes left in the first quarter, but New Jersey fought back, and by the time halftime rolled around the Nets held a six-point edge.
The Nets hit the gas as the third quarter reached its midway point. A 13-1 run increased their lead from three points to 15, and they were up by double figures at the end of the third, leading 66-56.
As the middle of the fourth passed, the Spurs sprang to life. A 3-pointer by ex-Net Stephen Jackson with 6:24 left sparked a 12-4 Spurs run, and when Tony Parker capped it by hitting a driving floater with 2:10 left, it was a one-point game as the Nets led 80-79.
A tough-angle runner off the glass by Jason Kidd put the Nets up three with 1:16 to go. Free throw makes by Kidd would keep the Nets ahead, and they led 86-82 with 11.8 seconds to go. But a 3-pointer by Jackson with 9.9 seconds left made it a one-point game, and after Kidd was fouled on the ensuing possession, he only hit one of two free throws. The score was 87-85 Nets with 8.1 seconds to go, but San Antonio would have a chance to tie or potentially win the game.
Jackson attempted a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left, but it was off the mark and time expired, giving the Nets the 87-85 win that tied the series at one game apiece with the scene about to shift to New Jersey.
Kidd led all scorers with 30 points. The Nets' other four starters combined for 36, and it was one of four times in his legendary career that Kidd scored at least 30 points in a playoff game, all of which occurred during the Nets' back-to-back Finals runs in the spring of 2002 and spring of 2003.
Kenyon Martin (14 points) and Lucious Harris (10 points) were the only other Nets who scored in double figures. K-Mart and Dikembe Mutombo combined for five blocks, helping the Nets take advantage of a Spurs team that committed 21 turnovers to the Nets' 13.
In defeat, Tony Parker led San Antonio with 21 points. Tim Duncan put up a healthy line that included a double-double - 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 blocks. Jackson added 16 points but was also charged with seven turnovers, the most for any individual player in the game.
With his Hall of Fame career coming to an end after announcing he would retire following the 2002-03 season, "The Admiral" David Robinson posted 10 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks.
Don't miss this epic Finals battle on YES Network's Nets Classics, airing Wednesday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m..
