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Carter scores 51 to lead Nets past Heat
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-12-25 20:54
MIAMI - Vince Carter tied a career high with 51 points, 37 in the second
half, and the New Jersey Nets extended their season-high winning streak to five
games with a 95-88 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night.
Carter
had 19 points in the third, then 18 more in the fourth �� including 12 straight
free throws to seal the win. Jason Kidd added 12 points for the Nets, who beat
Miami for the first time in 11 meetings, including a four-game sweep in last
season's playoffs.
Shaquille O'Neal had 24 points and 14 rebounds, and Dwyane Wade added 17
points �� on only 4-for-20 shooting �� for Miami, which hosts the Los Angeles
Lakers on Sunday in a much-anticipated Christmas matchup.
And given the way the Heat couldn't contain Carter, Lakers shooting guard
Kobe Bryant �� who had a 62-point effort against Dallas earlier this week �� might
be eagerly awaiting his chance to face Miami.
Carter was 13-for-25 from the floor and 23-for-24 from the foul line, easily
eclipsing his previous season-best of 38 set against Cleveland on Dec. 9. He's
averaging 35.4 points on 49 percent shooting during the Nets' winning streak.
Carter's 23 free throws made were also a career high, one more than his
previous best.
New Jersey trailed the whole first half, then used a 33-10 run to build a
76-60 lead with 9:24 left. Miami went on a 14-2 burst and drew within 78-74 on
Gary Payton's 3-pointer with 3:52 remaining, but the Heat got no closer in their
second loss in six games under coach Pat Riley.
Antoine Walker had 12 points and James Posey added 10 for Miami, which shot
only 37 percent from the field.
Miami led 24-12 after one quarter, after New Jersey missed 11 of its final 12
shots of the period on the way to its lowest-scoring period of the season.
The Nets' only make in that stretch was a dunk by Richard Jefferson following
a steal by Kidd. Jefferson, however, missed a slam earlier in that quarter while
challenging Alonzo Mourning �� one of three dunk tries that he couldn't convert
against the Heat's backup center in the opening half.
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