NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New Jersey Nets will try to sweep their third consecutive Eastern Conference playoff series on Sunday when they face the New York Knicks in Game Four of their first-round series at Madison Square Garden.
The Nets rolled to the NBA Finals last season after sweeping Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals and Detroit in the East finals. They have won 13 straight playoff games against Eastern Conference foes after rolling to three straight wins against the Knicks.
After winning the first two games handily on its home court, New Jersey held on for an 81-78 victory in Game Three here on Thursday.
Kenyon Martin had 19 points and 15 rebounds, converting a clutch three-point play with 26 seconds left, as he won the war of words with injured Knicks forward Tim Thomas, who called the Nets All-Star a "fake tough guy" earlier in the week.
Jason Kidd had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds and Richard Jefferson collected 17, 10 and eight for New Jersey.
Stephon Marbury had 18 points and 10 assists and Penny Hardaway and Nazr Mohammed scored 18 points apiece for the Knicks, who nearly erased a 14-point deficit before falling short.
Thomas, who is sidelined with a back injury after being flagrantly fouled in Game One, is unlikely to play in Game Four despite vowing revenge on the Nets.
MEANINGFUL MATCHUP: Kidd vs. Marbury. Although their numbers in the series are similar, Kidd has led his team's offense while Marbury has done a terrible job of helping the Knicks generate points. Kidd, as usual, has sparked New Jersey's efficient fast-break offense and Marbury has struggled to control the tempo for New York.
WHO'S HOT:
Nets: Jefferson is having the best series of his short career, averaging a team-leading 19.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.7 assists; Martin is the only player on either team averaging a double-double with 19.0 points and 14.3 rebounds per game.
Knicks: Hardaway has scored 16.3 points per game - nearly twice his regular-season average - to go with 17 assists and 15 rebounds.
WHO'S NOT:
Nets: C Jason Collins has just as many fouls (10) as points (10) and has grabbed one rebound in 43 minutes of action in the series.
Knicks: G Shandon Anderson has had a dreadful series, making just 5-of-22 shots from the floor. He has handed out 10 assists but committed eight turnovers.
STREAKS: The Nets have won 13 straight playoff games against Eastern Conference foes.
SEASON SERIES & HISTORY: New Jersey is 13-2 against New York overall since Kidd joined the team.
INJURIES:
Knicks: G Allan Houston (knee) is unlikely to play in this series; Thomas is doubtful due to multiple muscle contusions in his lower back.
Nets: None.
