New Jersey Nets Team Report - March 14

(Basketball News) - New Jersey’s Jekyll and Hyde season continued on Sunday, as it registered a 98-82 beating of the Orlando Magic at TD Waterhouse Centre. The impressive win came just a day after it was trounced 90-65 in Miami.

Vince Carter lit up the Magic with 33 points on 10-of-19 shooting, while draining 12-of-16 from the free throw line. Carter also posted seven rebounds, four steals and three assists in the win. It was the 27th time in his last 29 games that Carter has scored at least 20 points.

Jacques Vaughn registered 22 points and Jason Kidd added a triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. Kidd also had five steals in the winning effort.

The Nets shot 48 percent from the field, including 5-of-10 (.500) from three- point range. New Jersey hit 23-of-32 (.719) from the free throw line as well. The Nets lost the rebounding war, 40-39, but forced 20 Orlando turnovers in the contest.

New Jersey activated guard Billy Thomas on Sunday and placed oft-injured veteran swingman Ron Mercer on the IL with a lower back strain.

New Jersey is lurking four games behind Indiana and Orlando for the seventh and eighth playoff slots in the East. First, the Nets must make up the 2 1/2 game difference between themselves and ninth place Philadelphia.

The Nets will have the next two days off before hosting the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night. New Jersey will also host Utah on Friday and travel to Indiana on Sunday.