Over the course of 100 games, Jason Kidd has flung his body to the floor and into the stands, crashing into his opponents at Mach-3 speed without looking back.

The Nets' captain never complains, never allows for excuses. But with a shrug, he admits that the toll of the season has caught up to him at the worst time.

Last season, Kidd went into the N.B.A. finals with a strained groin muscle. This season, Kidd went into the finals still recovering from a right ankle sprain he sustained in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Detroit Pistons.

"I've been hurt in both finals," Kidd said before Game 5 tonight at Continental Arena. "That's no excuse. You've got to go out there and compete."

Kidd denied that the injury has affected his cutting, running or defense, even though Nets Coach Byron Scott said he thought the ankle had slowed Kidd down.