The New Jersey Nets faced a nervous time Wednesday when forward Kenyon Martin was forced to leave the Nets' game against the Philadelphia Sixers for X-rays on his left knee.  Martin says he felt he had tweaked the knee while making a move to the basket in the middle of the first quarter, but he played out the remainder of the quarter before leaving.

Martin then had his knee looked over yesterday as a precaution, and the good news for the Nets is the results showed nothing more than a sprain.  The Nets need Martin healthy for the second half of the season, New Jersey going into the All-Star break tied with the Indiana Pacers for the best record in the East.

One of Martin's goals this season has been to play in every game, and the All-Star break may allow him to keep hope of achieving this alive.  The Nets have the former All-Star listed as day-to-day, but as Liz Robbins of the New York Times writes Martin is roaring to go.  ``How long is the break?'' responded Martin when asked when he wanted to return.

Martin, currently holidaying in the Bahamas after being left off this season's All Star team, has totalled 15 double-doubles in his last 20 games and would be a major blow to the Nets power game should he be forced to miss time.