Carter helps Nets end skid with win over Heat

Richard Jefferson added 22 points and Jason Kidd chipped in 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists for the Nets, who snapped a four-game losing skid.

Dorell Wright registered a career-high 21 points, six blocks and four steals while also pulling down seven boards and Jason Williams netted 17 for the Heat, who have lost two straight games. Alonzo Mourning finished with 12 points and nine rebounds in the loss.

Miami was playing without All-Star guard Dwyane Wade, who sprained his right wrist against Chicago on Wednesday.

New Jersey opened the third quarter with a 28-6 run, including 21 straight points, capped by Jefferson’s dunk, for a 67-49 lead. Miami added fuel to the run by missing four shots and turning the ball over eight times in a little more than six minutes.

Miami responded by scoring 12 of the final 16 points of the quarter, including six points from Jason Williams, cutting the deficit to 71-61 heading into the final frame.

The Nets pasted the Heat in the third quarter 32-18.

Williams pulled Miami within eight, 71-63, with a pair of free throws to begin the fourth quarter, but that was as close as it would get.

New Jersey reeled off a 10-3 run, highlighted by Marcus Willams’ three-point play, extending the lead to 83-66 with 7:13 to play.

The Nets led 24-21 after the opening 12 minutes of play, but the Heat outscored New Jersey 22-15 in the second quarter, to take a 43-39 halftime lead.

Game Notes

The Nets are now 2-14 when they score under 100 points...The Heat are 0-3 in games without Wade...Miami committed a season-high nine turnovers in third quarter...Carter has scored 20 or more versus the Heat in 18 straight, including the playoffs...New Jersey shot 47 percent from the field, while the Heat connected on 44 percent of their shots from the floor...Miami’s Udonis Haslem ended with 10 points and six boards...Miami forward James Posey served his one-game suspension stemming from a Flagrant-2 foul against Chicago.