EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- A blowout victory for the New

Jersey Nets was marred by a blowup between Kenyon Martin and Corey Maggette.

Jason Kidd had his second straight 30-plus point game and Nets

held the Los Angeles Clippers to a season-low 28 first-half points

in a 92-75 win Tuesday night. Martin and Maggette were ejected

after exchanging punches in the third quarter, and both face

automatic suspensions.

Kidd hoped the punishment would not be severe, especially with

the Nets having won four straight and 13 of 16.

"Unfortunately, at that point, with a 26-point lead, you wish

something like that would not happen," Kidd said.

The altercation occurred with 7:08 left in the third quarter

after Martin committed a hard foul on Maggette on a drive to the

basket. Maggette appeared to shove Martin to the court, and Martin

got up and went after Maggette.

Martin walked past reporters after the game without commenting.

"I didn't push him, I hope he understands that," Maggette

said. "I know Kenyon is a hothead sometimes, he takes things the

wrong way. Like I said, I'll let the league handle it and go on

with it."

Maggette said he was surprised when Martin grabbed him by the

throat. He wasn't sure whether he hit Martin with a punch or was

hit by him.

Maggette sent a ball boy down to the Nets locker room while the

game was in progress and offered to apologize. Martin turned down

the offer.

"I know things happen and I think I am a bigger man to go talk

to him and try to apologize about the situation, but I guess he

declined so I am going to move on," Maggette said.

Nets coach Byron Scott felt Maggette overreacted.

Clippers Mike Dunleavy thought Martin might have tripped over

his own feet instead of being pushed. He also wasn't surprised by

the timing or type of foul.

"That's Kenyon Martin," Dunleavy said. "He does that. He's up

26 points and he does that."

No one else was involved in the fracas, which detracted from a

32-point night by Kidd as he shot 13-of-20 from the field. The Nets

gave an outstanding defensive effort in their 13th win in 16 games

and fourth straight.

"It's pretty much a carry-over from playing over in the

Garden," said Kidd, who scored 35 against the Knicks on Sunday.

"I found a rhythm and the ball is starting to go in for me."

Richard Jefferson added 20 points, six assists and six rebounds

and Martin had seven points and 12 rebounds before being tossed.

Elton Brand had 11 points and 16 rebounds as the Clippers showed

the effects of a trip East after an emotional win over the Lakers

on Sunday night.

Los Angeles shot a season-low 22.5 percent in the first half and

finished at 36.8 percent.

The Nets won this game with a magnificent second quarter in

which they outscored Los Angeles 27-13, holding the Clippers to

3-for-19 shooting.

"This was the best half we played this year in terms of

defending, and on offense as far as being organized and patient and

making them work as much as possible," Scott said.

Popular backup sub Brian Scalabrine got the Nets going in the

second quarter, picking up a loose ball and making a

behind-the-back pass to Jason Collins for a dunk.

Kidd took over in the final half of the quarter. He scored 10 of

the final 16 points and had a hand in all but two of those points.

Kidd added eight assists and three rebounds.

The basket that got the 12,305 out of their seats was an

off-the-boardboard pass on a fast break that Jefferson slammed home

as the trailer on the play.

Even the bad plays by Kidd turned out OK.

The All-Star point guard tried another off-the-backboard pass to

Jefferson late in the fourth quarter. Jefferson mistimed his leap,

but the ball tipped off his fingertips, bounced off the backboard

and went in.

Game notes

The Clippers' hold the NBA record for fewest points in a

half with 19 against the Lakers on Dec. 14, 1999. ... The last time

Kidd had back-to-back 30 point games was at the end of last season.

... Nets backup center Aaron Williams hopes to play on Friday

against Philadelphia after missing 10 games with a groin injury.

... Jefferson and Glen Rice of the Clippers were called for

technicals in the fourth quarter after getting in each other's

faces.