Jason Kidd replaced by James White in New York Knicks starting lineup against Wizards

WASHINGTON - Jason Kidd was out of the New York Knicks' starting lineup against the Washington Wizards on Friday night, replaced by little-used James White.

Kidd started 48 of the other 49 games he appeared in this season for New York.

He checked in for the first time Friday with 7 minutes, 5 seconds gone in the first quarter, taking the place of point guard Raymond Felton. White already had headed to the sideline when sixth man J.R. Smith entered the game.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson said before the game he made the move to get Kidd more chances "to run our team" with the second unit, rather than needing to share the ball with Felton on the first unit.

Kidd is averaging 6.8 points and 3.5 assists in 27.5 minutes this season.

Asked whether he still wants Kidd controlling the ball, Woodson said: "I like to see it in his hands, but he's going to realize too that he's still going to have to play some minutes where he's going to be in with Raymond or be in with Pablo (Prigioni), and they are going to share running the team, which is OK, I think."

Kidd declined a request to speak in the visiting locker room before Friday's game.

It was the seventh start of the season for White, who has been averaging 1.7 points and 0.3 assists in only 6.5 minutes.

The Wizards, meanwhile, were without forward-centre Nene for the second consecutive game because of a sore right shoulder.

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