EAST RUTHERFORD, March 30- The New Jersey Nets beat San Antonio for the first time since the 2003 NBA finals by collecting their 10th victory to avoid any chance of tying for the worst record in NBA history.
Brook Lopez had 22 points and 12 rebounds for New Jersey, who seized control with a 15-4 run late in the fourth quarter to improve to 10 wins and 64 losses.
The league’s worst team remains the Philadelphia 76ers, who went 9-73 in the 1972-73 regular season.
The Nets committed a franchise record-low four turnovers in beating the shorthanded San Antonio Spurs for the first time in seven years.
The Spurs were without several key players, including injured Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker.
George Hill scored 19 points and former Net Richard Jefferson finished with 16 after a strong start for San Antonio.
The Nets have now won three of four after opening the season with an NBA record 18-game losing streak.
Ginobili was a late scratch as he sat out with a nagging bad back.
Spurs Tim Duncan had 13 points and 12 rebounds but missed eight of his first 12 shots before finishing six of 15 from the field.
Courtney Lee scored 19 points and Devin Harris had 17 points and nine assists for the winners. Terrence Williams had 11 of his 13 points in the final quarter
