As Jason Kidd walked off the court with three minutes, and no doubt, remaining tonight in the Nets' 102-82 victory, which capped a four-game sweep of the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference finals, Kenyon Martin clasped Kidd in a bearhug.

The crowd was chanting "M.V.P.!" so into Kidd's ear Martin whispered the mantra of the Nets in this euphoric postseason, which will continue with the team's second straight trip to the N.B.A. finals.

"We're going back," Martin said. "We're not just going back this year, we're going to win it."

Kidd smiled and agreed, walking to the bench on the right ankle he twisted but probably feeling no pain. He scored a game-high 26 points, 8 in a row after his injury with seven minutes to play, leading the Nets on a game-clinching 13-1 run.