NEW YORK, March 19 (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks got a much-needed win against a team that gave its stars a much-needed rest.

NBA TV highlights from Nets-Knicks: 56k | 300k

Stephon Marbury had 21 points and nine assists and Tim Thomas scored 16 points as the Knicks posted a 79-65 victory over the New Jersey Nets, who were without All-Stars Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin.

New York (32-37) cruised to its third straight win, moving one-half game ahead of idle Miami and Cleveland - which lost to Utah - for sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks have 13 games remaining, including seven against teams in the East playoff race.

"We're starting to evolve," New York coach Lenny Wilkens said. "We're starting to come together. I'm going to keep pushing us, because I think we can get better than what we are."

New Jersey placed Kidd on the injured list prior to the game with a sore left knee and rested Martin, who has been bothered by knee tendinitis. It lost consecutive contests for the first time in 26 games under coach Lawrence Frank.

"It is what it is," Frank said. "There are no excuses. We are good enough to win every game the way we play. We just didn't get it done. The margin of error is less, but by no means do I think that we have to be perfect to win."

Without their best offensive players, the Nets shot just 33 percent (23-of-70) from the floor, including 2-of-12 from 3-point range, and made only 17-of-29 free throws.

The Knicks were not much better offensively but dominated inside, scoring 44 points in the paint and holding a 54-37 rebounding edge, including 20 offensive boards.

"We know that Jason and Kenyon weren't in the lineup tonight, but no matter what we got a job to do, and that was to go out there and get a win," said New York forward Kurt Thomas, who had 12 rebounds. "That's what we did. We feel like we're a playoff team. As long as we go out and compete and play the way we played tonight, we will definitely be there down the stretch."

Richard Jefferson scored 25 points and Rodney Rogers added 13 in place of Martin. But New Jersey got just seven points on 3-of-13 shooting from its shortened bench.

"It's not about how much we miss Kenyon and Jason," Jefferson said. "This is the first time playing without both if them. Everybody is going to have a little more responsibility."

Thomas scored 12 points and Marbury had seven assists in the first quarter, when the Knicks took control with an 18-8 run. Thomas had eight points during the burst capping it with a 3-pointer for a 28-18 lead with 99 seconds left.

The Nets did not threaten thereafter, losing for the seventh time in 13 games since a team-record 14-game winning streak - the longest in the NBA this season.