New Jersey (5-7) at Seattle (2-10)

When: 7:30 p.m., KeyArena, Seattle
TV: ESPN. Radio: 770-AM

Series: It’s the first meeting of the year between the two teams. Seattle has won the last three contests, including both games last year -- a 119-113 win in New Jersey and a 99-87 victory at Seattle.

Scouting the Nets: New Jersey is in the midst of a four-game road trip out West, and defeated Portland 106-101 on Wednesday, snapping a six-game losing streak. Vince Carter returned from a sprained right ankle, coming off the bench to score 13 points. Jason Kidd recorded his 90th career triple-double with 12 points, 13 assists, and 11 rebounds. … Richard Jefferson leads New Jersey in scoring at 24.5 points a contest, ranking him eighth in the league. … Kidd, a 14-year veteran, continues to fill up the stat sheet, averaging 10.9 points, 10.5 assists and 8.8 rebounds a contest. Kidd has finished the season ranked in the top five in assists the last 12 straight seasons. He is one of two players to accomplish the feat (Bob Cousy finished in the top five in assists 13 straight times, from 1950-51 to 1962-63).

Injured: Marcus Williams (broken right foot), Darrell Armstrong (right thigh contusion).

New Jersey head coach Lawrence Frank on playing the 2-10 Sonics: “We only have three more wins then they do. So we’re not coming in with a false sense of self.”

Scouting the Sonics: Stopping perimeter penetration and protecting the basket will be the keys for Seattle. The Sonics have been burned defensively the last two games, and need to play better defensively to stay close to the Nets.

New Jersey has several big man they can throw into the lineup with Jason Collins (7-0), Sean Williams (6-10) and Josh Boone (6-10). However, New Jersey will probably play a smaller lineup tonight with Slovenian Bostjan Nachbar (6-9) at power forward.

Kurt Thomas will be available to play limited minutes for Seattle tonight. But Johan Petro will sit with a lower back strain, Robert Swift is out with a sore knee, and Chris Wilcox is has a sprained left ankle. Wilcox is a game-time decision.

Carlesimo said if Wilcox can’t go then rookie Jeff Green will play a lot of power forward tonight.

Carlesmo said Swift also has a heel injury, and his working to take off some of the 40 pounds he’s gained over the last year to help in his recovery from off-season knee surgery. Carlesimo believes taking off some of the weight from his 280-pound frame could take some of the stress off of his knees.

“It wasn’t just weight, it was strength,” Carlesimo said. “He got a lot stronger over the summer, which is very good.

“Unfortunately now in the midst of a rehab it’s not good. And the bigger problem is getting the weight off when you’re not able to do anything – you can’t run and you can’t get on the floor – it’s really hard to get down.”

Listen to the rest of the Carlesimo conversation here.

With all the injuries to Seattle’s big men seldom-used Mouhamed Sene could see increased playing time. Sene’s only played in three games this season and 13 minutes overall, but when he’s been in Sene has altered shots inside with his long wing span.

Seattle coach P.J. Carlesimo said Seattle will have its hands full containing the Nets’ big three of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson at point guard, shooting guard and small forward.

“All three of them can bounce the ball,” Carlesimo said. “They can post up. It’s kind of a unique group. These guys can all shoot 3’s. They’re all post-up players. And they’re all very good rebounders for smalls. It’s kind of an interesting trio unlike no other one I can think of in the league.

Injured: Luke Ridnour (left quad tear), Johan Petro (Lower back strain), Robert Swift (right knee tendinitis). Chris Wilcox (left ankle sprain).

Next: Sunday: vs. San Antonio, 6 p.m., KeyArena