Carter leads Nets past Grizzlies

Mikki Moore added 24 points for the Nets, who ended a five-game skid and pulled within one-half game of the New York Knicks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Richard Jefferson tallied 18 points for New Jersey, which improved to 1-4 on its current six-game road trip that ends on Tuesday night against the Hornets.

Pau Gasol scored 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Grizzlies, who have dropped seven of eight. Rudy Gay and Chucky Atkins each had 17 points for Memphis, which has also dropped 10 of 12.

The Grizzlies battled back from a 28-21 deficit at the start of the second quarter to take a 35-33 lead following a Tarance Kinsey bucket four minutes into the stanza. That, however, was the final lead of the night for Memphis.

New Jersey went on a 10-2 run capped by a Carter three-pointer a little more than midway through the second to go ahead 43-37. The Nets cruised to the break from there, carrying a 51-45 lead into halftime.

The Nets continued to lead throughout the third, extending to as many as 15 points, 87-72, after a Marvin Williams basket late in the stanza.

New Jersey led 87-75 going into the fourth and was never seriously threatened until an 8-3 run to draw within 108-100 with just over a minute left.

Game Notes

Kinsey had a career-high 13 points...Stromile Swift had 10 points and 10 rebounds and Hakim Warrick tallied 10 points for the Grizzlies...Bostjan Nachbar had 14 points for the Nets...NJ improved to 12-20 on the road...Memphis fell to 11-21 at home...NJ ended a five-game road slide.