The Nets lost the first four games of the trip out West, losing All-Star point guard Devin Harris to a sprained left shoulder along the way. They didn't miss him on this night, shooting 59 percent and getting 17 points from his replacement, Keyon Dooling.
Al Harrington scored 21 points, and Nate Robinson had 18 points for the Knicks, who came home only two games out of the eighth playoff spot after going 3-2 on their trip and were opening a stretch where they play five of six at home. But they were never in the game in the second half, booed occasionally in a performance that was so bad that coach Mike D'Antoni gave Demetris Nichols and Cheikh Samb, both on 10-day contracts, their first playing time with the team.
The Knicks wore their green St. Patrick's Day uniforms, the same one Robinson wore when he soared over Dwight Howard to win the All-Star slam dunk contest. But Krypto-Nate and the Knicks were far from super, going 2-for-17 from 3-point range and having as many turnovers (15) as assists.
Robinson stayed in starting lineup despite the return of Chris Duhon, who missed the last two with a sore ankle and back. But he was only 1-for-7 in the first half and didn't get anything going until the game was essentially decided. Fellow starting guard Larry Hughes was 3-for-11 for his 10 points.
Nets coach Lawrence Frank said before the game there was no timetable for Harris' return, but insisted his team still had enough to win without him. That might be true if Carter plays the way he did Wednesday.
The Knicks led by three after one quarter, but Carter knocked down consecutive 3-pointers to open the second and give the Nets the lead. He later scored eight straight points on a pair of 3s and a layup to push the lead into double digits and finished with 17 points in the period, helping New Jersey open a 55-44 halftime lead.
The Nets then hit their first four and seven of their first eight shots in the third, extending the lead to 67-48, and it was never close again.
Notes: The Nets were without backup center Sean Williams, who was suspended two games for conduct detrimental to the team after he was arrested Monday at a cell phone store in a mall in suburban Denver. ... Knicks rookie Danilo Gallinari has left the team and returned to Italy to see back specialists as he considers surgery. ... The teams will meet again on the last night of the regular season in New York.
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