Since Jason Kidd joined the New Jersey Nets for the 2001-02 season, he's guided the club to plenty of success against their cross-river rivals, the New York Knicks.

The Nets look to win their 11th straight meeting against the stumbling Knicks with Kidd in the lineup as the Atlantic Division foes meet Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Including a four-game sweep in the 2004 playoffs, New Jersey is 23-2 when Kidd plays against New York since his acquisition in 2001. The Nets (10-13) have also won eight straight overall at Madison Square Garden - including two games in the postseason - and 10 in a row there when the eight-time All-Star is in the lineup.

The point guard did not play in New Jersey's 100-93 loss to New York (6-16) on Dec. 5 due to a migraine headache that some media speculated to be Kidd's way of possibly forcing the Nets to trade him, though he denied those charges. Jamal Crawford scored 29 points and Zach Randolph added 25 as the Knicks took advantage.

Kidd could be facing some legal difficulties after news surfaced Friday that a 23-year-old model has filed a lawsuit that accuses Kidd of groping and threatening her at a Manhattan nightclub two months ago. Kidd's lawyer and a spokesman for the player have denied the accusations.

His counterpart at point guard for New York, Stephon Marbury, could miss his fourth straight game. Marbury has played twice in six games since the death of his father on Dec. 2, and his status is uncertain for Saturday's contest.

Marbury has missed five of New York's last eight meetings with New Jersey, including the victory earlier this month.

New Jersey snapped a four-game losing streak with a 105-97 win over Cleveland on Friday. Vince Carter matched his season high with 32 points and outplayed LeBron James while Richard Jefferson added 24 for the Nets, whose last victory also came against Cleveland on Dec. 4.

"We lost four games in a row," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We haven't played well, especially at home. It's just good to get a win, regardless of who you play."

Carter has scored at least 30 points in three of his last four games after doing so just once in his first 14 contests.

New Jersey has played better on the road than at home, going 5-4 away from the Izod Center.

The Knicks dropped their fifth straight with a 101-96 loss at Chicago on Friday. Forward Quentin Richardson also sat out with a strained tendon in his right knee suffered in Wednesday's 117-110 loss to Seattle.

"Right now, we're 6-16," said Knicks guard Fred Jones, who scored 22 points. "Until we come together as a unit and understand that, we're not going to be any better. We have to understand the situation we're in and fight it."

Randolph had 27 points and 16 boards for his 12th double-double. Center Eddy Curry, however, missed all five shots and failed to score for the first time in his career since Jan. 29, 2003, when he played with the Bulls.

New York fell into a tie with Memphis and Miami for the second-worst record in the NBA.