By Tom Canavan
The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - With a towel draped over his head, Kenyon Martin looked down and mumbled in disgust. In the biggest game of his career - in what might have been Jason Kidd's final home game for the New Jersey Nets - Martin was too sick with the flu to be a factor in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.

Of all nights. The game was there for the taking and Martin not only couldn't do anything, he committed four of his eight turnovers in the fourth quarter in a 93-83 loss that gave the Spurs a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"Don't ask about the officiating. Don't ask about me being sick. Don't talk to me about anything except me," Martin said. "I was terrible tonight. I had a bad game. End of story."

The power forward, leading the Nets with averages of 19.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in this series, matched his season low with four points on 2-of-7 shooting and nine rebounds. He also was whistled for five fouls and a technical.

"I had a bad game at the wrong time," Martin said.

Kidd did his best to overcome Martin's rare off-night.

The All-Star point guard had 29 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and never left the court in failing to prevent the Spurs from pushing the Nets within a loss of another finals disappointment.

"I gave everything I had," said Kidd, who will become a free agent after this season. "I tried to compete at the highest level and I'll sleep good tonight because I left everything out there."

The Spurs can win their second title in five years and make the Nets a finals loser for the second straight year by beating New Jersey either Sunday night in Game 6 or in Game 7 on Wednesday night, if necessary. Both games will be in San Antonio.

The Nets will head to Texas wondering what if Martin had been healthy.

Martin's status came into question when he left practice early Thursday and didn't attend the Nets' pregame shootaround Friday morning.

The Nets insisted Martin would be better for the crucial game, noting that he had 20 points and 13 rebounds despite ailing in New Jersey's win in Game 4.

However, the emotional and athletic Martin didn't have it Friday night.

Martin got the crowd going before the game, putting his hand to his ear to encourage the fans to roar. But he had to leave after six minutes for a brief rest.

"He was dead tired," Nets coach Byron Scott said.

Except for a block on Bruce Bowen in the opening seconds of the second quarter, Martin caused the fans to groan more than cheer. His turnovers in the fourth quarter might have been the difference.

"K has been our emotional leader," Kidd said. "He has been our 'A' player in this series. For him to feel under the weather and not up to par, he is still going to compete. He didn't have the K-Mart game we are all accustomed to, so it was tough, hard, game. It wasn't a bad game, he didn't feel well. He's human."

The turnovers really hurt.

Trailing 76-67, the Nets got within two points with a 9-2 run that featured seven points by Richard Jefferson.

Two free throws by Tim Duncan pushed the lead to four points with 3:40 to play, but Martin was stripped by Steve Kerr on a drive to the basket.

"I know Kenyon loves that fake to the baseline and middle penetration," Kerr said. "He loves going middle, so I just anticipated."

Kerr hit a 3-pointer on the Spurs' next possession. Martin then turned the ball over again and Manu Ginobili drove the court for a layup and a nine-point lead.

The Nets never got close again.

Jefferson added 19, and Aaron Williams had 10.

Scott thinks Martin should be flu-free for Game 6.

"I think if he gets a little rest, he'll be ready on Sunday," Scott said.

The Spurs insisted they didn't notice.

"I could care less," former Net Stephen Jackson said. "If he's sick I hope he gets better, but we're not concerned. If him being sick was going to effect his play, he shouldn't play."

Martin wasn't the only Nets player hurting.

Jefferson's lip was split open early in the third quarter as attempted to block a shot by Bowen. The Spurs forward got Jefferson in the air with a pump fake and the Nets forward was hit in the face by Bowen's elbow as he came down.

In their final home game of the season, the Nets wore throwback jerseys from their days in the old ABA, which was appropriate in the first NBA Finals between teams from the league with the red, white and blue ball.