NBA wrap: Carter and Kidd lead Nets to verge of playoffs
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-04-18 09:38

Vince Carter scored 43 points and Jason Kidd had a triple-double as the New Jersey Nets closed in on a playoff berth with a 104-83 win over the Philadelphia 76ers in East Rutherford on Sunday.

Miami Heat center Shaquille O'Neal (R) is defended by Indiana Pacers forward Scot Pollard (62) during the second period in Miami, Florida, April 17, 2005. Eddie Jones scored a team-high 17 points as Miami overcame an injury to O'Neal and snapped a season-high four-game losing streak with an 84-80 victory over Indiana at American Airlines Arena. [Reuters]

New Jersey (40-40) won for the 13th time in 17 games to move into a tie with Cleveland (40-40) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Philadelphia (41-39) is seventh, with all three teams having two games to play.

With the Nets shading the tie-breaker with both teams, wins in their last two games will secure a playoff spot.

The 76ers need either one win or a Cleveland loss to clinch their postseason berth.

Carter added 11 rebounds, while Kidd had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 16 assists for his 67th career triple-double.

Nenad Krstic added 18 points and 10 rebounds for New Jersey, while Brian Scalabrine chipped in 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Allen Iverson scored 33 points for the Sixers, who were out-scored 65-47 in the first half.

Chris Webber added 14 points and seven rebounds for Philadelphia.

In other games, Antawn Jamison scored 26 points, including a layup with 1.3 seconds left to lift the Wizards to a 106-104 come-from-behind win over the Charlotte Bobcats in Washington.

Jamison added 13 rebounds while Larry Hughes scored 28 points and Gilbert Arenas bagged 27 in Washington's fourth straight win.

Matt Carroll led the Bobcats with 22 points from the bench.

In Auburn Hills, Richard Hamilton scored a team-high 19 points to pace the Pistons to a 90-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Ben Wallace had 11 points and 15 rebounds and Antonio McDyess added 11 points and 12 rebounds for Detroit.

LeBron James poured in 37 points and 11 rebounds and Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 12 points and 17 rebounds for the Cavs, who dropped their third straight game.

In Miami, Eddie Jones scored 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds to help the Heat to an 84-80 win over the Indiana Pacers.

Udonis Haslem added 12 points and 10 rebounds as Miami halted a four-game losing skid despite losing Shaquille O'Neal, who left the game with an injury late in the first half.

Stephen Jackson led the Pacers with 21 points and Reggie Miller added 18 points, including a three-pointer that brought Indiana to within four points late in the game.

In Minneapolis, Ray Allen poured in 34 points and picked up 10 rebounds to lead the Seattle SuperSonics to a 109-94 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Rashard Lewis scored 28 points and Luke Ridnour added 10 points and 11 assists.

Latrell Sprewell scored 20 points for the Timberwolves, who were officially eliminated from the playoff race.

In Los Angeles, Jerry Stackhouse scored 15 points, including three free throws in the final 19 seconds of the game, to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 114-112 win over the Lakers.

Dirk Nowitzki led the Mavericks to their seventh straight win with 24 points while Jason Terry contributed 17 points and 10 assists.

Kobe Bryant scored a team-high 33 points for the Lakers, who lost their fourth straight game.

In Toronto, Paul Pierce had 25 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics past the Raptors 103-98.

Gary Payton added 14 points for the Celtics, who enter the playoffs as Atlantic Division champions.

Jalen Rose scored 31 points and Chris Bosh added 26 for the Raptors, who will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.

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