Seattle, WA (My Sportsbook) - The reeling
New Jersey Nets travel to Seattle tonight to face Rashard Lewis and the SuperSonics at KeyArena.
The Nets have dropped back-to-back games and have been on the losing end in four of their last six contests.
The defending Eastern Conference champs also learned Monday that veteran center Alonzo Mourning will no longer be able to continue his professional basketball career because of an existing kidney disorder. The 33-year-old Georgetown product, who left the Miami Heat and signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Nets last July, is expected to undergo a kidney transplant soon.
The Nets last played on Saturday evening when they were dealt an 81-80 loss to Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors. Morris Peterson's free throw with 8/10ths of a second remaining in the fourth quarter lifted the Raptors to victory.
The Raptors led by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but squandered their advantage in the final period.
New Jersey's Kerry Kittles hit a jumper to tie the score at 80-80 with 14.1 seconds remaining. Carter was then tied up by Martin for a jump ball with three seconds left. On the tap, Peterson picked up the loose ball and was fouled by Kittles in the act of shooting with 8/10ths of a second left.
Peterson hit the first free throw, but missed the second attempt. New Jersey was left with only 5/10ths of a second and was unable to get off a shot following a timeout.
Martin paced New Jersey with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Mourning contributed 15 points. The Nets were playing without point guard Jason Kidd, who is questionable for tonight's game with a knee injury.
The SuperSonics have dropped three of their last five contests, but are coming of an 88-85 triumph over Washington on Sunday.
Vladimir Radmanovic went 4-of-8 from three-point territory and finished with a game-high 25 points for Seattle. Rashard Lewis added 24 points, and Ronald Murray scored 21 in the win.
Tonight's game completes a four-game homestand for the Sonics, who are 3-3 at KeyArena this season.
The Nets have dropped four straight and 13 of their last 14 contests in Seattle.
