NET NOTES

How hurt is Kenyon Martin? Put it this way. Martin admitted if Saturday’s game was a regular-season contest, he was done for the day after twisting his left ankle early in the third quarter. “If it wasn’t a playoff game, I probably wouldn’t have come back,” Martin said.

Predictably, Martin’s twisted ankle swelled up yesterday, forcing him to miss practice, keeping him in slippers. He may have to sit out today’s practice, though he’ll be a go for Game 2 tomorrow in this best-of-seven first-round series.

The fear, though, is the ankle will be a lingering ailment across the Nets’ playoff run, which means it’s a good idea to sweep the Bucks to give Martin rest between series.

“It’s swelled up on him a little, but Kenyon, no way in the world he wouldn’t play [tomorrow],” Byron Scott said.

“No matter how I feel, I’m going to play,” said Martin, who admitted the ankle was “sore.”

Unable to put any weight on his leg, a wincing Martin barely made it to the bench after turning his ankle two minutes into the second half. It was a scary scene as it looked like he was pointing to his knee. He left the bench for the tunnel, hearing rousing cheers. Minutes later, he bounded back onto the court, was inserted immediately and the fans chanted his name. “It was a great feeling,” Martin said. “They needed me out there. They voiced their opinion.”

Martin scored promptly on a 3-point play, converting a running hook in the lane and getting fouled. “If I wasn’t going to contribute, I wasn’t going to come back,” said Martin, who finished with 21 points and a career playoff-high 15 rebounds.

Jason Kidd on Oakland buddy Gary Payton and two other Bucks surrendering to authorities in Toronto Saturday night hours after Game 1. Payton, Sam Cassell and Jason Caffey, who flew to Toronto after the game, were charged with assaulting two women outside a strip joint on April 11. The women were said to have worked at the strip club. “He’s a veteran,” Kidd said. “Stuff that happens on his time is on him. I’d be lying if I said I could tell if there was a problem or distraction. He’s too good a player to let that distract him.” Payton went scoreless until 4:13 remained and had five turnovers … George Karl on Nets center Jason Collins, who had playoff-highs in points (13) and rebounds (12). “Every time I see him, he’s gotten better. He’s a banger, got a lot of courage.” … Martin on Bucks’ arrests: “Ain’t my concern. I have nothing to say about it, have nothing to do with it. That’s their problem.” … Dikembe Mutombo on playing Game 1 one day after burying his brother. “I still don’t believe I did it. When I was on the court, I was able to play basketball.”