Scott guides Nets past old team to dethrone Kings

Byron Scott nailed his first coaching win over his former team, the Sacramento Kings on Monday as the New Jersey Nets eased to a 117-83 victory.

Scott was an assistant coach with the Kings before taking the head coaching spot with the Nets two yeas ago. Since Scott took the helm, New Jersey has become one of the hottest teams in the league.

The loss was only the second in 19 for Sacramento who owns the best record in the NBA, while New Jersey remains the top team in the Eastern Conference.

Keith Van Horn scored 25 points and Lucious Harris added 17 off the bench for New Jersey.

Sacramento was without Chris Webber for most of the second half after he was stricken by stomach problems. Webber scored 23 points on 9-of-22 shooting.

The Nets went on a 25-8 run to secure an 82-62 cushion in the third quarter.

Van Horn had 13 points in the third and the Kings never got closer than 16.

It was the eighth straight home win for the Nets and the Kings most lopsided defeat of the season.

RAPTOR ROMP
In Philadelphia, Vince Carter started his All-Star display early, scoring 38 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 100-93 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.

Carter scored 13 points in the third quarter.

He was backed up by Dell Curry and Chris Childs who scored in the final minutes to hold off a rally by Philadelphia.

Toronto took an 84-71 lead into the fourth. But the Raptors committed nine turnovers. The 76ers Eric Snow's hit two free throws with 2 1/2 minutes left to come within 92-89.

But Carter nailed the win with three free throws in the final 12 seconds, including a free throw after Allen Iverson received his second technical.

Iverson was ejected but still scored 36 points and Derrick Coleman collected 13 and 10 rebounds for the Sixers. This was the second loss in seven games for Philadelphia.

In Houston, Steve Francis scored 33 points to rally the Houston Rockets to a 104-97 victory over the Utah Jazz.

Utah led 90-89 with 4 1/2 minutes left when a critical jumper by Moochie Norris sparked a string of seven straight points for the Rockets.

The Jazz start a nine game stretch on the road as the 2002 Olympic Games take over Salt Lake City.

Utah's Karl Malone scored 31 points and John Stockton added 14 and 12 assists. Cuttino Mobley added 30 points for the Rockets.

Utah had won 16 of the previous 18 meetings in the series.

In San Antonio, All-Stars Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett were ejected following a nose-to-nose shouting match as the San Antonio Spurs crushed the Minnesota Timberwolves 113-83.

Duncan had 13 points and nine rebounds and Garnett scored eight and six.