Kidd ready for action after time out

Jason Kidd, right, of the Nets, battles Brevin Knight of the Bucks in the second quarter of their game at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Tuesday. PHOTO: EPA

Jason Kidd, who missed nine games with a bone bruise in his left knee, was activated Tuesday by the New Jersey Nets.

"We're getting a gauge for where he's at," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "He's going to have to play through a great deal of pain. We need a barometer for where he's at as opposed to being potentially surprised."

Kidd not in the starting lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks. He last played March 18 in an 89-71 loss to the Detroit Pistons, scoring 10 points in 39 minutes. Kidd was put on the injured list the next day and did not practice until March 30.

The Nets, who clinched their third straight Atlantic Division title last week, have five games left after Tuesday night to evaluate Kidd's knee.

"It gives you a little bit more information to deal with," Frank said.

Kidd averaging 16.0 points, a league-high 9.5 assists and 6.7 rebounds. The 31-year-old has a league-best nine triple-doubles this season and 59 in his career -- tied with Larry Bird for fourth-most in NBA history.

Bucks 103, Nets 98

In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the long-awaited return of All-Stars Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat New Jersey.

Michael Redd and Desmond Mason led a late 10-0 spurt that moved Milwaukee closer to gaining home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks increased their lead over fifth-place Miami to 1 1/2 games.

Damon Jones had 23 points and 11 assists, Redd added 21 points and Mason 18 in the Bucks' third straight win. Keith Van Horn had 13, including two big free throws with 17 seconds to play to push the lead to five points.

Rodney Rogers had a season-high 26 points and Richard Jefferson 25 for the Nets.

Pistons 102, Magic 86

Rasheed Wallace had 17 points and 11 rebounds to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 102-86 for their 11th straight loss.

The Pistons won for the 13th time in 15 games but also had a key loss. Starting point guard Chauncey Billups did not return after twisting his left ankle when he stepped on Tyronn Lue's foot in the third quarter.

"That's what you fear at this time of the year," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "But there's no answer -- guys can get hurt just as easily in practice."

Detroit got 12 points from Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince and 11 from Richard Hamilton. No starter played more than 31 minutes.

"We want to win these games and play well to finish up on a good note," Prince said. "We know where we will be, but we want to get prepared for the playoffs."

Lue the Magic with 21 points, and Keith Bogans added 15 and nine rebounds.

Raptors 87, Cavaliers 86

In Cleveland, Jalen Rose made a 3-pointer in the final second as Toronto ended a seven-game losing streak and maybe Cleveland's playoff chances.

Rose's with six-tenths of a second remaining capped a final possession that kept Toronto's playoff pulse beating for at least another game.

A loss would have eliminated the Raptors from the postseason.

The Cavs' fifth straight loss dropped them three games behind idle Boston for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is four back of the Celtics.

Vince Carter scored 32 points, Rose added 15 and Donyell Marshall had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Toronto. LeBron James scored 21 points, Carlos Boozer had 18 and Jeff McInnis added 16 points and 10 assists in his first game back from a shoulder injury.

Pacers 107, Knicks 86

In Indianapolis, Ron Artest had 26 points and Jermaine O'Neal had 20 along with nine rebounds to lead Indiana over New York in Isiah Thomas' return to Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Knicks' team president attended a game at the arena for the first time since being fired as Pacers coach in August, but his new-look Knicks were no match for the Pacers.

Jamaal Tinsley also was strong for the Pacers in his first action in five games. He had 10 points, nine assists and five steals, and Jeff Foster added 12 points and 10 rebounds. Nazr Mohammed led New York with 20 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

Mavericks 118, SuperSonics 108

In Dallas, Michael Finley scored 24 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 23 as Dallas extended its winning streak to five games, defeating Seattle.

Antawn Jamison had 17 points, Marquis Daniels added 16 points and Steve Nash contributed 14 points and 14 assists to help Dallas improve to 34-5 at home.

The Mavericks continued to excel offensively a small lineups that has included forward Antoine Walker logging extensive minutes at center. Dallas scored 118 or more points for the sixth consecutive game.

Brent Barry and Ray Allen had 20 points each and ex-Maverick Ansu Sesay matched a career high with 19 points to pace the SuperSonics, who've lost five of six.

Kings 105, Hornets 91

In Sacramento, California, Brad Miller had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his first game back from an elbow injury as Sacramento beat New Orleans to stay atop the Western Conference.

Peja Stojakovic scored 26 points and Chris Webber had 24 for the Kings, who still can't find the poise and chemistry they've lost since Webber's return from a knee injury.

Sacramento by 26 points in the second quarter, but the undermanned Hornets chopped the lead to 81-77 in the fourth before Doug Christie started a 9-0 rally with a 3-pointer and a dunk.

The Kings (54-23) moved a half-game ahead of the Minnesota Timberwolves (54-24), who visit Sacramento on Thursday.

Trail Blazers 91, Lakers 80

In Los Angeles, Damon Stoudamire scored 24 points, and Zach Randolph had 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists as Portland downed the Los Angeles Lakers to give their playoff hopes a boost.

The Blazers (40-37) won for the 10th time in 14 games to move within a half-game of Utah for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff berth. Portland and Denver are tied for ninth place.

The loss was the second straight following an 11-game winning streak for the Lakers, and put a damper on their hopes of gaining the conference's top seed in the playoffs.

Los Angeles played one of its worst games of the season but was within six points early in the fourth quarter. But Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored six points and Stoudamire added five during an 11-0 run that gave the Blazers an 82-65 lead with 6 minutes remaining.

Warriors 97, Rockets 90

In Oakland, California, Troy Murphy scored 20 points as Golden State sent the fading Houston to its fifth straight loss.

Jason Richardson added 19 points as the Warriors won for the 10th time in 12 games. Clifford Robinson had 10 points and a career-high 10 assists. Speedy Claxton added 16 points and Mike Dunleavy 12.

Jim Jackson scored 19 points and Steve Francis 18 for the Rockets, who are clinging to seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race. Houston leads eighth-place Utah by just 1 1/2 games.

Houston 13 games over .500 after beating Memphis, 88-80, on March 13, but the Rockets have lost nine of their past 12.