NBA

Magic can't handle Nets' 1-2 punch of Kidd, Carter

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Jason Kidd had 16 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his 69th career triple double, and the New Jersey Nets beat the Orlando Magic 113-106 Friday night for their ninth straight victory.

Vince Carter scored 31 points, going 14-of-15 from the free throw line, to lead six Nets players in double figures. Richard Jefferson added 15 points, Nenad Krstic had 14, and reserves Clifford Robinson and Jacque Vaughn each scored 10.

Dwight Howard paced the Magic with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Grant Hill scored 14 points, all in the first half, but played only two minutes in the second half before reaggravating his strained groin.

Jameer Nelson had 18 points and Hedo Turkoglu 14 for the Magic, who have lost three straight following a three-game winning streak.

The Nets (18-12), on the fourth-longest win streak in franchise history, put away the game by outscoring the Magic 28-16 in the third quarter. Jefferson and Carter each scored seven points before Robinson closed the period with a 3-pointer for an 83-63 lead.

The Magic (12-18) cut the lead to 101-94 on a driving basket by Nelson with a minute left but got no closer.

The teams traded the lead eight times and had 14 ties in a closely contested first half, before the Nets went on a 10-2 run to take a 55-47 halftime lead. Krstic finished the first half with consecutive jump shots, the second coming off a scramble for the ball at the foul line.

Kidd scored five of the Nets' final 10 points of the first half on a 3-pointer and two free throws.

NOTES: 3Kidd's triple double total is more than that of 22 of the NBA's teams. He ranks fourth all-time, trailing Oscar Robertson (181), Magic Johnson (138) and Wilt Chamberlain (78). ... Veteran referee Jim Clark missed part of the third quarter after he was apparently kicked in the head by a tumbling performer right before the second half was set to begin.

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:25:29]