By InsideHoops.com

The Boston Celtics visited the Nets in New Jersey for an Atlantic division battle. Below are raw, unedited game notes. Enjoy.

In what may be a first in NBA basketball, both of Jason Kidd's shoes fell off early in the first quarter. He slipped one back on pretty quickly. The other took about 10 seconds. Everyone waited. If that's happened before, I've never seen it.

How do you stop Jason Kidd on a fast break? Put him in a headlock with one arm while wrapping your other arm around Kidd's chest, making him shoot free throws. That's how Tony Delk did it, at least.

After Kenyon Martin throws down a dunk, the common song you hear played in the arena is "Slam" by Onyx.

The first quarter is over. Nets 20, Celtics 18. Lucky fans chosen at random could have scored the same amount of points. Aside from Jason Kidd running like a demon and dishing or finishing, the Nets offense is lacking. For Boston, J.R. Breme and Eric Williams carried the scoring load in the quarter. No, that's not a typo.

Lucious Harris is a highly underrated finisher. Like Jason Kidd, he has great body control.

Craig Sager has a dark blue suit on. No yellow, light blue or pink today.

Jeff Van Gundy is 1,700 times cooler than you think he is. That's an official InsideHoops.com declaration. So, consider it fact.

Brian Scalabrene running the break, jumps, double-clutches in mid-air, shoots the layup... no good!

With 6 minutes to go in the second quarter, it's Nets 30 Celtics 28. Paul Pierce and Antoine Walker have combined for just 10 points.

During a timeout, Joe Piscopo was put on the big screen to promote the New Jersey Idol contest, the Nets' version of American idol which takes place during halftime. For details, hit NJNets.com. If you enter, tell them InsideHoops.com sent you, and then ask for a special free gift. You won't receive one, because we don't have any sort of promotion arranged. But ask for one anyway!

Jason Kidd got popped in the mouth, and it clearly hurt. The very next play down the floor, he immediately pulled up and hit a three-pointer.

Antoine Walker drove and Richard Jefferson decided that the best way to stop him was to karate-chop his arm. Walker responded by falling flat on his face and lying there, as if he was deceased, for about 10 seconds.

Some media guy I've never seen before was running up the stairs, and slipped and almost fell flat on his face. That'll teach him for running. Kids, running is unsafe. Walk, don't run.

When Kenyon Martin has the ball anywhere near the rim, it's over. He jumps 18 feet in the air and throws down a dunk. Defenders always rise, and then to their dismay, see nothing but the soles of Martin's sneakers as he throws down on their sorry heads.

Jason Collins was guarding Antoine Walker. Employee number eight was reasonably isolated. Yet, instead of trying to drive past him, which he certainly has the quickness to do, Walker just pulled up for a quick three, which he missed. The previous play, Richard Jefferson, who is much quicker than Jason Collins, was guarding Walker, and Walker tried to drive past him.

Both Antoine Walker and Walter McCarty weren't pleased when J.R. Bremer failed to spot them wide open in three-point range, in a few separate plays over the course of a few minutes.

Antoine Walker isn't a huge fan of Steve Javie. Not tonight, at least.

At the halftime buzzer, Walter McCarty tried to fire a full length of the court shot, and Kenyon Martin swatted it. Crazy. I don't ever remember seeing an 80 foot shot attempt being blocked.

The halftime score is Nets 45, Celtics 37.

The New Jersey Idol contest is funny. The fans boo the moment each singer starts singing. They don't even give the singer a chance. Several times, Joe Piscapo asked the fans to give the singer a few minutes (he really meant a few seconds) before reacting. They finally heeded his request for the very last singer, who by total coincidence, was the best, and quite deservedly won today's edition of the contest.

Booties in Motion, the Nets dancers formally known as Power in Motion, should perform more. Like, during every timeout. And during gameplay as well.

With six minutes to go in the third quarter, it's Nets 62 Celtics 51. Paul Pierce now has 19 points. Antoine Walker has 9.

It just feels silly watching Brian Scalabrene get all the time that he does. Silly.

Tony Delk brought the funk, hitting back-to-back threes late in the third quarter.

The third quarter is over. Nets 72 Celtics 58. Time for Booties in Motion and some helpers to fire low-grade white t-shirts into the stands. Fans act like they're starving in the desert and the t-shirts are drinkable. During this event, hald of Booties in Motion are on roller skates.

Brian Scalabrene from the left elbow, misses the rim completely and hits nothing but backboard. Awesome.

With six minutes to go in teh game, it's Nets 81, Celtics 71.

Antoine Walker is shooting 4 for 984723984233928 this evening.

Tony Delk brings the funk. Don't ask how or why. He just does. And he's number 7. Why? Because he brings the funk 7 days a week.

With 2:51 to go in the game, it's Nets 88 Celtics 71. This one's over.

Final score: Nets 90 Celtics 75.

In the Boston Celtics locker room after the game, Boston Globe reporter Shira Springer, who is on crutches and hobbling around, wanted to talk to Paul Pierce, who was about 10 feet away and by himself. Shira's crutches were set aside, and she was basically balanced on one leg, not putting much pressure on the other. Despite this, rather than walk over to her, Pierce stood there and made Shira literally hop on one leg over to him. InsideHoops.com, reporting the hard facts.

Jason Kidd finished with 13 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds to go with 3 steals. Lucious Harris scored 24. Kenyon Martin added 17 and 7. For the Celtics, Antoine Walker shot just 3 of 15 to finish with 10 points, 7 rebounds and 6 turnovers. Paul Pierce had 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists as the lone offensive force in green.

Jason Collins scored a season-high 15 points.

Donny Marshall was awesome tonight, playing one minute and pouring in 0 points.

All five starters scored in double-figures for the Nets. They're now 7-0 when doing that.

The next Nets game is Sunday at home against Allen Iverson and some other guys.


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