Nets Cut Record 12th straight victory is a franchise best

Toronto - Kerry Kittles is savoring the Nets' winning

streak more than any other member of the team. Perhaps he can put it in

perspective better than anyone else.

Jason Kidd tied a season high with 15 assists, Richard Jefferson had 20

points and Kittles added 19 Friday night as the Nets beat the Toronto Raptors,

91-72, and set a franchise record with their 12th straight win.

"I'm enjoying this, I really am, because I know what it was like when we

were struggling," said Kittles, who is in his eighth season in New Jersey and

is the senior Net. "We've had adversity, even this year, but more so in the

past. I was on teams that were outmanned many nights."

The Nets' previous longest winning streak came in the 1982-83 season, when

Buck Williams, Albert King and Otis Birdsong were the stars and Larry Brown was

the coach - at least until he quit with six games left in the regular season

to take the coaching job at the University of Kansas.

Kidd did not seemed excited about the record.

"Any time you put a double-digit win streak together, that's impressive,

but we have a bigger picture in mind," he said. "We want to get better."

New coach Lawrence Frank improved to 11-0. He set an NBA record for the

best start to a coaching career by winning his 10th consecutive game Wednesday.

"He's helped our entire team. We're focusing more on defense," Jefferson

said after the Nets held their opponent under 40 percent shooting from the

field for the 12th straight game. "He's holding people more accountable."

Donyell Marshall had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who have

lost four straight. Toronto is in danger of falling out of the playoff race

after losing Vince Carter and Jalen Rose to injuries. Carter is expected to

miss at least two weeks with a sprained left ankle and Rose is out for a month

with four broken bones in his left hand.

Kenyon Martin, the Nets' All-Star forward, did not start because of a sinus

infection but entered the game with 6:14 left in the first quarter. He

finished with six points and two rebounds in 24 minutes.

"Sweat was probably the best thing for it," Martin said.

Toronto never led in the game. Marshall's jumper cut the Nets' lead to

eight with 7:57 left in the fourth quarter, but the Nets responded with a 17-2

run as Aaron Williams scored seven straight points and Jefferson and Kittles

hit three-pointers. Williams scored 12 points and grabbed a team-high eight

rebounds in only 17 minutes.

Kidd also had 15 assists on Dec. 12 at Orlando. His career high is 25.

NETS 91

RAPTORS 72

Saturday

Hornets at Nets

7:30 p.m.

TV: YES

Radio: OR (710)