Back in the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul on Utah's Karl Malone, Martin scored 21 points as the New Jersey Nets snapped a 14-game road losing streak to the Detroit Pistons with an 88-75 victory.
Martin scored 12 points in the first quarter, helping the Nets open a 24-20 lead. New Jersey stretched its advantage to 44-39 at halftime before breaking open the contest early in the third quarter.
"It was a great feeling to be back out with the fellas," said Martin, who was suspended for his hard foul on Utah's Karl Malone. "I was just being Kenyon."
 Kenyon Martin was back swatting shots like this one on Zeljko Rebraca. Tom Pidgeon NBAE/Getty Images |
"(Martin) gives us a lot of emotion out there, a lot of energy," New Jersey coach Byron Scott said. "Tonight, he was fantastic at both ends of the court. It was the type of game we needed from him, and we got it. I thought at the beginning of the game he was very into it, as far as guarding Stack (Jerry Stackhouse)."
The Nets, who led by as many as 21 points in the final period, posted their first road win over the Pistons since a 107-100 victory on February 5, 1994.
Stackhouse scored 16 points for Detroit but made just 7-of-20 shots.
"I just played him tough, like I always played him before," Martin said. "Tonight, he just missed more than normal. He's going to score, you're not going to shut him out. I was just trying to play him tough."
Detroit was held to a season low in points, one game after allowing a season high in a 117-89 loss at Seattle.
"New Jersey is a really good team," Detroit coach Rick Carlisle said. "I thought they played exceptionally well. Unfortunately, our effort wasn't up to their level of play."
A return to the Palace at Auburn Hills could not reverse the Pistons' sagging fortunes as they suffered their sixth straight loss. Coming off an 0-5 road trip, Detroit matched its longest losing streak since last January 4-10.
The Pistons scored just 36 points in the second half, managing 18 points in each of the final two periods.
"In the second half, we should have shown signs of playing hard and playing together. But in the last six games, it's been our biggest overall problem -- playing as hard as we can defensively and getting good shots offensively," Carlisle said.
Kerry Kittles added 15 points for the Nets, who at 18-9 are off to the best start in franchise history. Jason Kidd handed out 18 assists and grabbed seven rebounds to go with four points for New Jersey, which has won back-to-back games on the road.
"Jason keeps us going," Scott said. "He starts the game with that same intensity and he plays with it for however long he's out there. He plays every play like it's his last play. It's one of those games he didn't look to score too much."
The Nets did not reach 18 wins last season until February 18 in their 55th game. They improved to 9-6 on the road, surpassing last season's total of eight wins away from home.
"This was one of those games we felt we could make a little bit of a statement around the league," Scott said. "We knew that team had been sitting here waiting on us and had lost five games in a row, and they were going to come out and be real aggressive."
New Jersey dominated inside, outscoring the Pistons in the paint, 48-18. Aaron Williams contributed 12 points off the bench for the Nets, who held Detroit to 38 percent shooting (31-of-81).
"It was great to come in here and get a win," Kidd said. "We had lost like 14 straight here. They owned us last year and they beat us pretty handily the first time, so it was good for us to come here and get a win."
Detroit tied it at 34-34 on a basket by Chucky Atkins with 4:34 left in the first half. But the Nets ripped off a 24-9 run that extended into the third quarter, opening a 58-43 lead on Kittles' jumper with 8:31 left in the period.