If two of the biggest keys to the Nets' season are the health of Jason Kidd and Nenad Krstic, then Wednesday was a good day in New Jersey.

Kidd practiced for the first time in almost two weeks, reporting no ill effects from the lower back injury he had been suffering from. He said he would like to play in one of the two remaining preseason games - tonight against the 76ers at home or tomorrow against the Knicks at the Garden - but seems more certain that he will be ready when the season begins on Wednesday.

Just as encouraging as that news was the fact that Krstic felt fine after having his surgically repaired left knee banged into during Tuesday's game against the Celtics. Dealing with an inevitable blow to his knee was one of the last hurdles the 7-footer has had to overcome in his rehabilitation.