New Jersey 96, Philadelphia 94
’Zo Debuts in Nets
Preseason Finale
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Oct. 28 (Ticker) -- 'Zo apparently is ready to go.
Alonzo Mourning made a triumphant return from a kidney transplant, scoring 12 points in 19 minutes off the bench as the New Jersey Nets edged the Philadelphia 76ers, 96-94, in the preseason finale for both teams.
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Signed to a four-year, $21 million contract in the summer of 2003, Mourning abruptly left the Nets in November after announcing he needed a kidney transplant, which was brought on by focal glomerulosclerosis, a disease that causes chronic kidney failure that was diagnosed four years ago, when he was with the Miami Heat.
Mourning received a new kidney from a family member in December and began workouts this summer with the intention of returning to the court. The disease cost him almost all of the 2000-01 season and the entire 2002-03 campaign, with an All-Star appearance in between.
The 6-10 center entered the game midway through the first quarter to a nice ovation and quickly sank a jumper and blocked a shot. He took a seat with 1:54 left in the period but returned for three more stints.
Mourning had two blocked shots but missed 4-of-10 free throws and committing eight turnovers before fouling out. But his presence was a welcome sight for the Nets, who will start the season without All-Star guard Jason Kidd.
It won't take long for Mourning to determine whether he is ready for games that count. The Nets host Shaquille O'Neal and Miami in Wednesday's season opener.
Richard Jefferson had 21 points and 12 rebounds and former 76er Rodney Buford scored 20 points for New Jersey (4-4), which handed Philadelphia (6-2) just its second preseason loss.
After Marc Jackson pulled the Sixers into a 94-94 tie with two free throws with 3.8 seconds to play, Jefferson drove around Willie Green for a baseline dunk with 0.8 seconds left.
Rookie Andre Iguodala and Kenny Thomas scored 15 points each and Allen Iverson added 13 for Philadelphia. Thomas suffered a scratched cornea in the fourth quarter and Iverson did not play in the second half.
On Wednesday, Philadelphia opens its season at Boston.
Sort of promising... 8 turnovers and 6 fouls is a little bit of a worry but everything else is pretty good. Without the FT's.
I can live without the players from the 90s, I just wish some aspects of the 90s were still alive and well today, such as a greater number of good, legitimate, worthy of being on an All-Star ballot centres and the talent pool being distributed more evenly between the two conferences. I know an Eastern team finally captured the title again, but it was only a few years ago that each conference could boast three or four teams that had a legitimate shot at winning it all.
