The word hung in the air at Continental Arena on Friday night as the Nets prepared for a trip to Texas, not knowing whether to pack enough for one or two games in the N.B.A. finals.

Jason Kidd, with only the slightest provocation and after refusing to address the free-agency issue during the playoffs, uttered the word "if" during his last interview Friday night, after the Nets lost Game 5 to the San Antonio Spurs, 93-83, and fell behind by 3-2 in the four-of-seven-game N.B.A. finals.

Kidd had done all he could, he said, scoring 29 points in playing all 48 minutes in what could have been his last game in a Nets home uniform.

"If that happens to be the case, I thought I played a pretty good game, if that was my last game here," he said Friday. "So, we'll see."

It was just one little word, and perhaps it is a question of overanalyzing it, searching for clues that will begin to clarify themselves on July 1, when Kidd can start negotiating as a free agent, and on July 15, the first day he can sign a contract.