EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ, Feb. 22 (Ticker) -- The balance of power has clearly shifted in the rivalry between the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.

Jason Kidd collected 17 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and rookie Richard Jefferson scored a season-high 22 points as the Nets routed the struggling Knicks, 115-93.

With the two teams playing less than 15 miles apart, New Jersey and New York are geographical rivals. But the Knicks had dominated the series in recent seasons, winning 18 of the previous 27 meetings entering the 2001-02 campaign.

New Jersey had posted a pair of wins over the Knicks by a total of 44 points in the first six weeks of the season and won the season series for the first time since 1993-94 with another dominant performance Friday.

NBA TV highlights from Knicks-Nets: 56k | 300k Keith Van Horn and the Nets have risen above a helpless Latrell Sprewell and the Knicks. Noren Trotman NBAE/Getty Images

"We are just a bettter ball team," Nets forward Kenyon Martin said. "They have been the team in this area for so long and we realize that. We just go out and put extra emphasis on these games. I think we wanted everybody to realize that we are a better team than they are."

"We understand the tradition and the reputation the Knicks have, for years they have been so dominant" Kidd said. "We want to fill those shoes. We just have to come out and play at a high level and that's what we did tonight."

The Nets led by as many as 29 in the second quarter but were holding on to a 65-59 lead less than two minutes into the third quarter before Kidd reeled off seven straight points to spark a 17-6 run.

The All-Star point guard sank a jumper, converted a three-point play and made a driving layup before tossing an alley-oop to Kerry Kittles. Kidd also added assists on a jumper and 3-pointer by Kittles, who scored nine of his 20 points during the burst.

The spurt gave the Nets an 84-65 cushion and the Knicks never got closer than 14 thereafter, suffering their fifth consecutive loss to the Nets, who are 20 games over .500 for the first time in team history.

Keith Van Horn scored 16 points despite sitting out the fourth quarter and Martin added 12 for New Jersey, which shot 49 percent (44-of-89) and made 10-of-19 3-pointers.

New York shot 52 percent (37-of-71) from the floor but committed 21 turnovers leading to 28 points for the Nets.

Othella Harrington and Shandon Anderson scored 10 points, but Allan Houston was held to six points on 2-of-9 shooting as the Knicks lost for the seventh time in nine games.

"Right now we're not playing well over the course of a game," Houston said. "It is what it is. There's no sugarcoating it."

New Jersey made 16-of-24 shots in the first quarter and jumped out to a 34-20 lead. Kittles and Van Horn each scored nine points in the opening period.

The Nets scored 17 of the first 19 points in the second quarter, highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from Jefferson. Lucious Harris capped the burst with a layup to give New Jersey a 51-22 advantage with 8:12 left in the first half.

"Our guys really came out with a lot of energy," New Jersey coach Byron Scott said. "Our effort was fantastic. I thought we might have exerted too much energy in the first 10 mintes of the game, but once again these guys found a way to get it done."

"They got up on us early, it's tough to come back from that type of deficit," Sprewell said. "It took us a while to adjust to what they were doing."

The Knicks, who shot 59 percent (10-of-17) in the second quarter, closed the first half on a 30-14 run, with all but nine points coming from Sprewell.

"Sprewell was the only guy who was clicking," Chaney said. "He's not going to shoot that way the whole game."

New Jersey had 63-45 cushion with 1:34 left before Sprewell nailed a 3-pointer and two free throws. After a dunk by Van Horn, Howard Eisley sank a jumper to bring New York within 65-52 at halftime.

Sprewell opened the second half with a 3-pointer and Harrington followed with consecutive baskets to close within 65-59 at 10:03 before Kidd and Kittles took over.