Heat Isn’t On, but Nets Can’t Take Advantage

The ball bounced Vince Carter’s way. The game didn’t.

One of the luckiest shots of Carter’s career -- it took several bounces off the backboard and rim before dropping through to force a second overtime -- couldn’t keep the New Jersey Nets from losing, 108-105, to the Miami Heat on Thursday night.

Carter’s shot would end up being the final moment of magic for the Nets as they fell behind 3-0 in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference playoff series.

“I had missed a three earlier and I wanted another opportunity, and I got lucky,” said Carter, who made 15 of 37 shots. “We were fortunate it gave us a new life.”

But that life lasted only five more minutes, and the problem now confronting New Jersey is one that no NBA team has solved -- overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

Miami can complete a sweep Sunday.

Shaquille O’Neal had his best game of the series with 25 points, Udonis Haslem had the final go-ahead basket among his 14 points and 19 rebounds, Dwyane Wade had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Eddie Jones scored 20 points for the Heat.

Carter scored 36, Richard Jefferson had 23 and Jason Kidd had a triple-double of 16 points, 13 assists and 16 rebounds for the Nets, whose best chance to win came at the end of regulation on Kidd’s three-point attempt.

But he couldn’t connect, and Carter’s crazy bounce only ended up delaying the eventual loss. Haslem’s putback made it 104-102 with 1:26 left, and a missed three-point shot by Clifford Robinson and a blown layup by Jefferson helped secure New Jersey’s defeat.

Carter’s shot came after Jones, normally a solid foul shooter, missed two free throws with 11.5 seconds remaining to leave the Nets two points behind.

The Nets were hurt by their three-for-23 shooting from three-point range and nine missed free throws in 27 attempts.

Miami was 10 for 22 on three-point shots to help overcome 16 missed foul shots in 38 attempts.

“Man, this team is very resilient,” said Heat center Alonzo Mourning, who grabbed a key rebound late in the second overtime. “This just shows the toughness and character of this team in digging out a win like this.”