ESPN Network: ESPN.com | NFL.com | NBA.com | NHL.com | WNBA.com | ABCSports | EXPN | FANTASY | INSIDER

  Scores/Schedules
  Standings
  Statistics
  Transactions
  Injuries
  Players
  Message Board
  NBA StatSearch
  NBA en espaņol
Clubhouses






Tuesday, Apr. 17 7:30pm ET
New Jersey coach not impressed with effort

RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- In a game that was only about pride, the Chicago Bulls showed a little more than the New Jersey Nets.

Ron Artest hit a go-ahead layup with 39.2 seconds left and the Bulls added a final insult to the New Jersey's injury-plagued season, beating the Nets 100-94 in their season finale Tuesday night.

"We're being evaluated," Bulls rookie A.J. Guyton said after scoring a career-high 24 points. "You're always out there playing for the future. We want to establish ourselves so we can be a good team next year."

Artest added 19 and Marcus Fizer had 17 as the Bulls won for only the third time in 22 games.

Fred Hoiberg had 15 points and Elton Brand added 12 points and 12 rebounds as Chicago (14-67) won its second consecutive on the road, and its fourth in 40 games away from the United Center. The Bulls finish another dismal season at Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Somewhere down the line, guys have to look at themselves and decide what they want to do in this league. A lot of guys coasted the last week or so. They were stealing money.
Nets coach Byron Scott

"It's a process," Bulls coach Tim Floyd said. "That word has been overused at our place. At least we don't have to be talking about streaks going into next year."

Lucious Harris had a season-high 27 points for the Nets, who used a late 14-4 run to wipe out a 10-point deficit, tying the game at 94 on a reverse layup by Harris with 57.4 seconds to play.

Artest then drove the lane for a layup. After Harris missed a go-ahead 3-point attempt, Hoiberg and Guyton each added two free throws to send the Nets (26-56) and rookie coach Byron Scott to their sixth consecutive defeat.

"We have work to do this summer," Scott said. "No disrespect to Chicago, but this is a game we should have won. Somewhere down the line, guys have to look at themselves and decide what they want to do in this league. A lot of guys coasted the last week or so. They were stealing money."

The Nets lost 345 manpower games to injury this season, one shy of the team record set in 1987-88. In the final weeks of the season, the lineup was filled with free agents signed to 10-day contracts.

Starters Stephon Marbury, Kenyon Martin, Kendall Gill and Jamie Feick were lost to injury during the season. Kerry Kittles missed the entire season because of a knee injury, and Keith Van Horn missed the first 32 games because of a broken leg.

The Nets' mascot, Sly, even went down with a knee injury late in the season.

Chicago took the lead midway though the first quarter and it led by as many as 13 points late in third.

The lead was still 90-80 with 6:33 to play when the Bulls went cold. Harris scored 10 of the 14 points in the Nets' late run, but he missed the shot that would have put them ahead.

"It was kind of hard to get up for the last game but you still have to do it," said Harris, who shot 12-for-21 from the field, but only 1-for-5 from 3-point range. "But not all the guys came out tonight and played as hard as they could and it cost us."

Doug Overton added 17 points and Van Horn had 15 in what some think might be his last game with the Nets. Scott is looking to make changes next season and Van Horn's name has been mentioned in reports.

Van Horn refused to discuss his future with the team.

"Everyone on this team will be looked at and I'm sure they're going to have to make decisions to try to improve things."

Game notes
Guyton's previous high was 19 points. Harris' previous career high was 31. ... The Bulls outrebounded the Nets 45-35, although the Nets outscored Chicago 40-26 in the paint. ... Chicago shot 9-for-17 from 3-point range. ... The Bulls shot 25-for-30 from the free throw line, the Nets shot 10-for-15.

Send this story to a friend
ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard

Chicago Clubhouse

New Jersey Clubhouse

RECAPS
Toronto 94
Detroit 92

Atlanta 122
Washington 119

Miami 91
Milwaukee 89

Chicago 100
New Jersey 94

Philadelphia 111
Indiana 105

Houston 114
Minnesota 87

Utah 97
LA Clippers 92

San Antonio 99
Portland 93

LA Lakers 108
Denver 91


ESPN.com:  HELP |  ADVERTISER INFO |  CONTACT US |  TOOLS |  SITE MAP
Copyright ©2000 ESPN Internet Group. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and Safety Information are applicable to this site. Employment opportunities at ESPN.com.