East Rutherford, N.J. -- In a match up with the West’s best, the Nets (26-33) fell to the San Antonio Spurs (41-17) 93-83 at IZOD Center.

Devin Harris – again coming off the bench – and Vince Carter scored 21 apiece to lead the Nets, who shot just 35 percent from the field in a game that the Spurs never trailed after falling behind 2-0.

Richard Jefferson scored 18 on 4 of 13 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Harris was 6 of 16, though he did hit a career-high four three-pointers.

Tony Parker led the Spurs with 25 points (10 of 18 shooting) and added eight rebounds and seven assists. Manu Ginobili scored 17 and Tim Duncan had a quiet double-double of 13 points (4 of 14 from the field) and 14 rebounds.

The Nets could not cut the Spurs leader any closer than six in the second half.

“Offensively, we looked very fragmented at times and that’s what missed shots will do,” said Coach Lawrence Frank.

“We had some lay ups that we missed, missed shots, obviously a very low assist game – with eight assists – versus 13 turnovers, shooting under 35 percent. And then when we had an opportunity to make some runs, we had probably some ill-advised possessions or shots and then they made some shots that didn’t let us cut into it deeper.”

“We didn’t play like ourselves,” said Harris. “We didn’t have a lot of assists, the ball really didn’t move like we need it to, and that’s partly my fault. Everything for us was very difficult; we need to try to get easier baskets…”

The Spurs jumped out early in the first quarter and led by as much as 11. The Nets cut it back within five two times by quarter’s end - thanks to 11 points from Harris - but Ginobili hit a 22-footer with .1 seconds on the clock, giving San Antonio a 27-20 advantage going into the second. Harris was 3 of 5, including two threes, both on the fast break. Ginobili scored seven for the Spurs, who shot 50 percent from the field.

The Nets scored five unanswered to start the second – including another pull up three by Harris – and cut their deficit to two (27-25). A 10-2 Spurs response put them back up by double-digits (37-27) with 6:07 before halftime. New Jersey found their way back within four before the half but San Antonio closed strong and held a 53-43 at the intermission. Carter and Parker each had nine.

Harris led all first-half scorers with 17.

A Carter three-point play with 3:26 in the third got the Nets to within 63-57 but San Antonio extended their lead right back to 10. Gnobili made the Spur lead 12 (72-60) on a three-pointer with 49.1 but Marcus Williams hit a three with .2 to close scoring. The Nets trailed 72-63 at the end of three.

The Nets twice cut it to six in the fourth quarter, but both times the Spurs pushed their lead right back to 10. Jefferson hit a three at the start of the quarter, making it 72-66 Spurs before Ime Udoke scored on a lay up and Jacque Vaughn a jumper. Later, the Nets rolled off five straight, again getting within six (81-75). Parker then hit unanswered scores, on a 20-footer and then a whirling lay up. The Nets did not threaten again.

Notes: The State of The Five

Nets Coach Lawrence Frank was asked in the pre-game about how the center position is shaking out right now both with the influx of new players coming in and with the production of incumbent Nets players.

“Josh (Boone) has been one of our most consistent big players we’ve had since putting him in the starting lineup and DeSagana (Diop) has shown the ability to play the back up position. We encourage DeSagana to look at the rim as well. And he does a good job protecting paint. And then we have two guys who can also give some minutes at the five in Stromile and Sean. Basically through practice and game production you evaluate who’s your best fit. It’s a good situation to have.”

Has Sean fallen out of the mix lately?

“He has a little bit over the last couple of games,” said Frank. “Some of that is good healthy competition. Your competition in practice, your preparation for games, your game production all go into your playing time and that’s the way it should be.”

“The way to get back in playing is work your tail off; that’s the only way to do it. We were in a situation earlier in the year where we didn’t necessarily have that. And now, we do. So I think it’s good. Sean can definitely help us win games but there’s healthy competition for minutes.”

Pop on Harris

San Antonio Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich has seen a lot of Devin Harris over the past few seasons. Before the Nets were to host the Spurs on Sunday evening, the Spurs’ head man was asked about Harris and how he sees him fitting in with New Jersey.

“He’ll be great,” said Popovich.

“He’s a young, dynamic kid who’s got a lot of energy. He’s worked a lot on his shot and you already can see that he’s making shots in his first game that he was here. He’s just going to get better and better. He’s a hell of a talent.”

“He’s also a hell of a defender. You can see he’s fast, he gets to the rim, he’s great in transition, he’s willing to pass the ball, his shot is improving on a daily basis, but he’s a hell of a defender and he makes a lot of things happen. (Whether it’s) taking charges, getting steals, staying in front of his man, stopping people. He’s a heck of an all-around player.”

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