Granted, expectations weren't quite as high in New Jersey as for a Cleveland team coming off of an NBA Finals appearance. However, while the Nets haven't been a title contender since making consecutive trips to the Finals in 2002 and 2003, New Jersey has advanced to at least the semifinal playoff round five times in the last six seasons and each of the last two. It was a disappointment, then, when the Nets sat 10-15 on Dec. 18. Since then, New Jersey has been seven up and two down to even its record and move into a crowded race for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

The worrisome sign for the Nets is that many of their wins have been narrow escapes. Despite winning six games in the stretch, New Jersey hasn't won by double-figures since Dec. 4. The Nets own the league's best record in games decided by five points or fewer at 12-3; Cleveland is the only other team in the league with at least 10 such wins. Luck can be a fickle mistress, and New Jersey's point differential of -4.1 points per game may catch up to the team at some point.

The Nets boast plenty of elite talent, a group that begins with point guard Jason Kidd. At age 34 (he'll be 35 in March), Kidd has made few concessions to age. He is not shooting the ball well (his 36.5% mark from the field would be the lowest of a career not marked by sharpshooting), but Kidd remains as versatile as anyone in the league. On Tuesday, he recorded his third consecutive triple-double (13 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds) and his 10th of the season. The rest of the NBA combined has 11.

Quietly, Richard Jefferson is putting together an outstanding season at small forward. Jefferson's average of 24.5 points per game ranks him sixth in the NBA and is a new career high. Jefferson averaged 22.2 points during his injury-shortened 2004-05 season, but that came when his and Kidd's seasons barely overlapped and before the Nets acquired Vince Carter. Jefferson took on a leading role in the offense he was unsuited for and his shooting percentage plummeted while his turnovers skyrocketed.

Jefferson's performance this season shows the growth of his game (and it doesn't hurt to have Kidd setting him up). While his shooting percentage (.458j) isn't special, Jefferson more than makes up for it by earning frequent flier miles at the free-throw line. He leads the NBA in free throws made per game (8.3) and is second in attempts.

Where the Nets have struggled has been on the interior. Incumbent starting center Nenad Krstic has not played since Nov. 21 because of complications in his return from a torn ACL suffered last season. Veteran Jason Collins remains a valuable interior defender and screen-setter, but his non-scoring his reached epic proportions this season; he's averaging 1.3 points per game and 3.1 per 40 minutes.

Salvation for New Jersey up front could come from the youngsters. Josh Boone and Sean Williams were first-round picks the last two drafts, respectively, and have given the Nets production - if not yet consistently. Boone got a chance to play heavy minutes in December and responded by averaging 8.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game in the month on 57.0% shooting, the latter two marks both tops amongst NBA sophomores. Williams, a remarkable athlete, is 10th in the NBA in blocks per game (2.1) despite averaging just over 20 minutes a contest. He's added 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds and is, like Boone, an effective finisher at the rim.

The Sonics wrap up their four-game East Coast swing against the Nets and are looking to do a better job taking care of the basketball. Turnovers hadn't been a major recurring issue since early in the season before the Sonics coughed it up 45 times in the last two games. "Some of the turnovers were created by good, aggressive play by Cleveland," said a disappointed Sonics Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo, "but a number of them were just guys not catching the ball, guys dribbling the ball off their foot, or guys making very ill-advised passes."

Sonics rookie Kevin Durant tweaked his right ankle during the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game. Afterwards, he told reporters, "Hopefully, it will be alright by tomorrow night."

KEY MATCHUP
	Coming off the bench, forward Bostjan Nachbar is New Jersey's fourth-leading scorer at 10.4 points per game. Nachbar hasn't shot the ball well this season, hitting 32.5% of his three-point attempts after making them at a cool 42.3% clip last year. Still, Nachbar is dangerous as a streak shooter. On Saturday, he hit four threes and scored 16 points as the Nets won in Atlanta. Sonics swingman Wally Szczerbiak has been carrying a heavy load for an offense that has struggled on this trip. He's scored 33 points off the bench the last two games, finishing second on the Sonics in scoring each time.

Trailing by as many as 13 points in the third quarter Nov. 23, the Sonics rallied to get within one point late in the fourth quarter, but New Jersey got big shots from Jefferson and Antoine Wright and a late turnover and missed free throws proved costly. The Sonics still had a chance to tie in the closing seconds with a three-pointer, but the Nets opted to foul Delonte West. The Sonics were unable to recover when West intentionally missed his second free-throw attempt, and New Jersey finished off a 98-93 victory.

The Sonics did a good job of getting back into the game in the second half. Jeff Green was a big factor in that, recording another double-double and tying the career high he set four days earlier in Memphis with 14 rebounds. West scored 17 points and Kurt Thomas' veteran presence was an invaluable part of the comeback. It was a quiet night for the starters, though four of them did reach double-figures scoring and all had at least two assists. Durant hit some big shots amongst his 12 points.

Kia Surprising Stat

INJURIES

Sonics - Guard Kevin Durant (sprained left ankle) is a game-time decision. Guard Luke Ridnour (tightness, left quad) is doubtful. Forward Chris Wilcox (dislocated right pinky finger) and center Robert Swift (tendinitis and contusion, right knee) are out.

New Jersey - Forward Malik Allen (sore lower back) is probable. Guard Antoine Wright (right ankle sprain) is questionable. Center Nenad Krstic (left knee rehab) is out.

For more analysis before tonight's game, listen to the Sonics Pregame Show starting at 4:00 on KTTH 770 AM.