NET NOTES
MILWAUKEE – Zoran Planinic sat and watched and hoped. His 13-game exile to the injury list had ended. In the Nets’ previous game, he played four garbage-time minutes against the Sixers. He wanted some meaningful time.
Then he heard Byron Scott call his name near the end of the third quarter Wednesday night against Washington. Planinic entered in the closing seconds of quarter three and finished the game, looking as good or better than in virtually any of his appearances.
“I was so happy when Byron say my name,” said Planinic, who played 13 minutes in only his third appearance since Nov. 25 and made all three of his shots, including a 3-pointer while collecting seven points and two assists. “The first couple minutes, I was very tight. The three, oh, that felt good. It keep me going. I need the minutes to keep myself up and sharp. I was so happy to play.”
Scott is from the Pat Riley school where rookies need to prove themselves in practice first. Planinic, by Scott’s account, worked extra hard after he was banished from the active roster. Planinic, held in very high regard by Net brass, may not have been given any shot this season had the Nets landed Charlie Ward last week.
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Here’s Phoenix coach Mike D’Antoni on the Bucks, who beat his Suns here last week:
“Their bench is the same as the starters. There’s no difference. They bring in [Toni] Kukoc, who is obviously a premier player, and the rest of the guys . . . they can play. They’re playing well right now.”
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Entering last night, only Indiana at 15-4 had a better home record in the East than the Bucks (14-4).
Two hottest Nets are Richard Jefferson and Kerry Kittles. In his last 10 games, Jefferson has averaged 21.3 points and shot 85-of-167 (.509). Kittles, in his last 12 games, has averaged 14.8 points, bagging 72-of-133 shots (.541) . . . Nets are home to Pacers tomorrow night. Teams split first two meetings, each winning on the other’s homecourt.
Jason Kidd continues to lead the league in assists with 9.7. No. 2? Stephon Marbury at 8.6 . . . Nets lack a 20-point scorer but had three guys averaging 17: Kidd (17.4), Kenyon Martin (17.2) and Jefferson (17.0).
While Jefferson called his third-quarter ending halfcourt shot against the Wizards “lucky,” Kidd said it was the result of extra work. “He’s been in the weight room,” Kidd deadpanned. “He’s extended his range.”
Nets had lost their last seven regular season games here, including a 92-87 defeat Dec. 20.
