Hornets win big, cut into Nets' series lead

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- David Wesley shook off a head-to-head collision with Jason Kidd, then lifted the Charlotte Hornets back into the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Wesley, injured when he and Kidd smacked heads late in the first half, scored 22 points and gave the Hornets an emotional spark while leading them to a 115-97 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Thursday night.

Baron Davis scored 26 points, Jamaal Magloire added 16 points and six blocked shots, and George Lynch had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets, who trail the Nets 2-1 in the best-of-seven series. Game 4 is Sunday in Charlotte.

Kidd, who needed stitches to close a gash over his left eye following the collision with Wesley, scored just 13 points. He played just five minutes and scored just four points after smacking his head.

Richard Jefferson led the Nets with 16 points, while Kenyon Martin added 13, Keith Van Horn 12 and Kerry Kittles had 11.

The game was played on the eve of the NBA owners' scheduled vote on Charlotte's relocation request and it is an expected formality, with approval of the Hornets' move to New Orleans all but guaranteed

The pending departure of the 14-year-old franchise failed to increase the crowd as just 11,363 turned out in one of the Hornets' final games in Charlotte.

But those on hand were loud and even rowdy at times, standing and waving towels while coaxing on the Hornets.

They gave Wesley, at five years the longest tenured Hornet and Charlotte's captain, two standing ovations. One came late in the game when he turned to the fans and began clapping as New Jersey shot meaningless free throws.

Elsewhere

LEAGUE MVP: Spurs forward Tim Duncan edged New Jersey Nets guard Jason Kidd for NBA MVP honors in the award's fifth-closest finish since the media began voting in 1981.

Duncan received 57 first-place votes and 954 points from a panel of 126 sports writers and broadcasters, while Kidd drew 45 first-place votes and 897 points.

Shaquille O'Neal was third with 696 points.

After word of Duncan's selection got out Monday, Nets coach Byron Scott and O'Neal protested that the wrong player won. Kidd himself was more gracious, saying he was happy for Duncan.

LAKERS: Add another ailment to O'Neal's injury list -- a sprained left ankle. And when asked about it Thursday, the team's big man took a verbal shot at coach Phil Jackson.

"Ask Phil, he knows everything," an obviously annoyed O'Neal said.

Jackson had said a day earlier he had a "heated discussion with Shaq about getting actively involved in chasing the ball down."

O'Neal didn't practice Thursday before the team left for San Antonio. He is expected to play tonight when the Lakers and Spurs meet in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series at the Alamodome.

-- From wire reports