Attention K-Mart fans: Sunday, Feb. 13, is Kenyon Martin’s date to touch down in the Meadowlands against the Nets.
Martin and the Nuggets’ lone in-season appearance at his old Nets stomping – and dunking – grounds is one of the highlights of the 2004-05 Nets’ schedule, released yesterday. The Martin-less Nets open the season at home against Miami and Shaquille O’Neal, who makes his debut with the Heat on Wednesday, Nov. 3.
The other Net starter given away to the West during the off-season, Kerry Kittles, won’t return until Wednesday, Mar. 30, when the Clippers come to New Jersey. But the Nets will renew acquaintances with their former mates early in the season.
The Nets play seven of their first nine games at home before embarking on their first extended road trip starting with – yup the Nuggets and the Clippers. The Nets visit Martin in Denver on Tuesday, Nov. 23, to start a four-game trip that also includes a stop in Los Angeles to face the Clippers on Thanksgiving night, Nov. 25, in a nationally televised TNT game.
Additionally, ex-Nets coach Byron Scott leads his New Orleans Hornets into the Meadowlands on Friday, Dec. 10.
The Nets renew their area rivalry with the Knicks in the Meadowlands on Tuesday, Dec. 14, and again on Thursday, Apr. 7. The Nets will cross the Hudson River to face the Knicks in the Garden on New Year’s Day, a Saturday, and on Friday, Apr. 1, in a pair of 8 p.m. starts.
Other home games of note include the Rockets with Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming on Monday, Nov. 15; the lone appearance of Tim Duncan and the Spurs on Friday, Feb. 11; MVP Kevin Garnett and the Timberwolves on Saturday, Mar. 26; and a pair of visits by the world champ Pistons on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 5.