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Sunday, Feb. 18 1:00pm ET
Marbury scores 24 points after halftime

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – New Jersey trailed the Los Angeles Clippers by 20 points midway through the second quarter, and Nets coach Byron Scott was angry.

So Scott blistered the Nets during a second-quarter time out, and again in the locker room at the half. His team got the message.

With Stephon Marbury scoring 33 points, the Nets rallied for a 102-96 overtime victory to snap a three-game losing streak and hand the Clippers their fifth consecutive loss.

"That was probably the angriest I've ever been," Scott said. "I just don't think we came ready to play. We just walked out there with no emotion or energy or anything."

Keith Van Horn sent the game into overtime with a spin move and Marbury took charge in overtime.

"The second half they responded," Scott said. "We came out and did a good job, especially on the defensive end. We were a lot more aggressive, more physical."

The Nets began their comeback shortly after Scott called a time out with 4:20 to play in the second period.

New Jersey scored nine of the last 11 points in the first half to cut the gap to 49-37.

Then, with Marbury scoring 12, they fought back to take a 73-69 lead after three periods.

"He was very angry," said Marbury when asked about Scott. "He was definitely at one of his low points as far as being frustrated. We were going out and playing passive, as if these guys were going to lay down."

Lamar Odom, who scored 34 points, ran off 14 in a row including a 3-pointer to give the Clippers a 91-88 edge with 27.4 seconds to play in regulation. But Lucious Harris hit two free throws with 12.2 to play, and Eric Piotowski made one of two free throws for the Clippers with 11.4 remaining to make it 92-90.

Van Horn then sent the game into overtime with a spin move and basket from the top of the key with 3.1 seconds to play.

"In that situation, with so little time on the clock, you want to help your team get into overtime," Van Horn said. "The only thing on my mind was to make a good play."

Marbury scored the first two baskets in overtime for a 96-92 lead. After Quentin Richardson scored for the Clippers, the Nets closed it with six straight free throws -- four by Harris and two by Marbury.

"I thought probability would catch up with us and we would win an overtime game," said Clippers coach Alvin Gentry, whose team is now 0-8 in OT this season. "Stephon came out, made shots and made a lot of big plays, but the bottom line is when your trying to hold off a team you can't miss free throws, give up offensive rebounds and keep making unforced errors."

The Nets missed their first 14 field goal attempts and did not score a basket until 2:42 remained in the first period. The quarter ended with the Nets making just 2 of 17 shots and trailing 25-12.

The Clippers used a seven-point spurt, including five by Odom, midway through the second quarter to build a 43-23 edge.

Harris finished with 18 for the Nets while Van Horn added 14, including 12 after intermission. Richardson had 15 for the Clippers, and Cherokee Parks added 13 points and 14 rebounds.

Game notes
Reserve G Sherman Douglas is not with the Nets while attending to "family business" in Washington. Scott hopes Douglas will rejoin the team in time for its next game, with Toronto on Wednesday. ... Harris had a precautionary MRI on his left knee Saturday. Results were negative and he played Sunday. ... General manager John Nash, whose contract was not renewed by the Nets, returned from a scouting trip to Europe and said: "I plan to work for the Nets as long as they want me." ... The Clippers played their fourth game on a seven-game, 10-day trip.

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San Antonio 92
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Washington 101
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Golden State 91


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