Carter scores 40 as Nets beat Knicks

Mikki Moore added 19 points for the Nets, who won their second straight game and moved to with 4 1/2 games of idle Toronto in the Atlantic Division. Bostjan Nachbar chipped in with 15 points and 10 boards, while Jason Kidd finished with 11 points and 14 assists.

"It’s all created from defense," said Carter. "We boxed out and limited them to one shot which creates easy baskets. We started to feel good about yourself and really moved the ball well."

Stephon Marbury had 22 points for the Knicks, who have lost eight of nine games versus the Nets. Eddy Curry donated 18 points and Channing Frye tallied 15 points off the bench for New York.

The Nets entered the second half looking at a nine-point deficit but took control with a dominant third quarter. New Jersey outscored the Knicks 33-15 in the frame behind 12 points from Carter to take a 77-68 lead into the final frame.

"The third quarter is the thing that really killed," said Knicks coach Isiah Thomas. "Vince was an amazing part of that."

The Knicks refused to go away, however, and Jamal Crawford’s three made it a one-possession game, 87-84, with 6:53 remaining.

But, New Jersey responded and put the game away with an 8-0 run. Moore capped the flurry with a jumper to make it 95-84 with just 2:18 left.

New York never seriously threatened from there.

The Knicks ran out to a 28-22 lead after the opening 12 minutes and extended their advantage to nine, 53-44, by intermission.

Game Notes

New Jersey took the first meeting between the two squads this year on January 19 and has won seven of the last eight in the series and 13 of the last 16...The Nets are now 16-14 at home this season...New York is 10-19 on the road this season...Knicks forward David Lee missed the game with a high right ankle sprain...Kidd nailed his 688th three-pointer with the Nets and passed Kerry Kittles for the all-time franchise lead...Nachbar’s double-double was the first of his NBA career.