Nets’ Carter Scores 45 With Hot Second Half

After outscoring Vince Carter by one point in the first half, Richard Jefferson joked that maybe the two should swap paychecks.

“How is it I make less money than you and have more points right now?” Carter recalled Jefferson saying at halftime.

Instead, Carter went out and earned his money.

He scored 38 second-half points, including driving layups on consecutive possessions in the final minute to rally the New Jersey Nets to an 89-85 victory over the Bucks on Tuesday night at Milwaukee.

Jason Kidd added his fourth triple-double of the season for the Nets, who ended the Bucks’ six-game home winning streak and won at Milwaukee for the first time since 2000.

“When the scorer is going like that, you’ve got to get him the ball,” said Kidd, who had 12 points, 12 rebounds and 13 assists. “He puts so much pressure on the defense.”

Carter scored the Nets’ final 14 points and finished with 45. Michael Redd and Bobby Simmons had 18 points apiece for the Bucks.

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Cleveland 105, Orlando 92 -- After making only four of his first 17 shots, LeBron James made six in a row late and finished with 26 points in the Cavaliers’ victory at Cleveland.

Dwight Howard had 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic, which lost its seventh in a row and plays six of its next eight games on the road.

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Memphis 94, Toronto 88 -- Eddie Jones scored five of his seven points -- a three-pointer and two free throws -- in the final 42 seconds to help the host Grizzlies win their fourth in a row.

Pau Gasol led Memphis with 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists. Chris Bosh had 26 points and nine rebounds for Toronto.

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San Antonio 103, Seattle 78 -- Tony Parker scored 30 points, and the Spurs made 11 of 21 three-pointers in their first home game of the month.

Ray Allen scored 20 for Seattle, which lost Rashard Lewis to a sprained ankle in the second half.

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Denver 100, Charlotte 84 -- Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points to help hand the Bobcats their fifth straight loss at the start of a six-game trip.

Raymond Felton, slightly injured in a minor car crash Sunday, scored 14 for Charlotte.

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Sacramento 102, Golden State 77 -- Brad Miller scored 17 points, and the Kings won their ninth in a row at home to push past the Warriors in the Pacific Division standings and out of last place.

Mickael Pietrus scored 16 for the Warriors, who played without Baron Davis (ankle injury) in finishing with their lowest point total of the season.

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Indiana 97, New Orleans 75 -- Rookie Danny Granger scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds at Indianapolis to lead the Pacers to their sixth victory in seven games.

Chris Paul had 27 points for the Hornets.

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Washington 90, Minnesota 78 -- Gilbert Arenas had 34 points at Washington, and the Timberwolves had 10 points on four-for-17 shooting in the final quarter to lose for the eighth time in 10 games.

Ricky Davis led Minnesota with 25 points.

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Detroit 97, Atlanta 87 -- Richard Hamilton had 24 points as the Pistons led by as many as 19 in the fourth quarter of a victory at Auburn Hills, Mich.

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Boston 103, Utah 83 -- Paul Pierce scored 30 points to help the Celtics end a seven-game road losing streak.

The Celtics lost Wally Szczerbiak to a bruised left knee in the first quarter.

Andrei Kirilenko scored 17 points for the Jazz.