Brooklyn Nets an infrequent tradition on Christmas
By Phil Watson
Dec. 25, 1979: Rookie Cartwright puts on a show
The New Jersey Nets were not a very good team in 1979-80, just 13-22 when they arrived at Madison Square Garden for the first of what would be five meetings on Christmas Day with the New York Knicks (16-20) over the next six years.
New York erupted out of the gate to lead 40-23 after just one quarter and held a 70-49 halftime edge en route to a 131-102 thumping of the Nets.
Rookie Bill Cartwright, who made his only All-Star appearance in his first season with the Knicks, scored a game-high 33 points for New York, while Toby Knight added 25. Larry Demic, another rookie, came off the bench for 12 points and 12 rebounds and Micheal Ray Richardson went for 14 points, 10 assists and six steals.
Mike Newlin and rookie Calvin Natt, who would be traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in early February, scored 19 points each for the Nets and another rookie, Cliff Robinson, added 11 points and 13 rebounds.
Rich Kelley, acquired in a preseason trade from the Utah Jazz for Bernard King, played 36 minutes off the bench and had 11 rebounds and six assists. Eddie Jordan went for 12 points and six dimes.