Nets Learn How Low Trail Blazers Can Go

The New Jersey Nets relied on their defense to win one of their ugliest games of the season.

Vince Carter scored 26 points, and the Nets held the Portland Trail Blazers to a team record-low five points in the fourth quarter of a 78-65 victory Wednesday night at East Rutherford, N.J. The five points were the second-lowest in a fourth quarter since the 24-second shot clock was instituted for the 1954-55 season.

Golden State scored two points in the fourth quarter of an 84-81 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Feb. 8, 2004.

“They aren’t all masterpieces, but we found a way to win,” Net Coach Lawrence Frank said. “It’s nice that you can win and shoot 39%.”

Richard Jefferson scored 22 points and Nenad Krstic had 20 for the Nets, who have won three in a row.

Jason Kidd, battling a cold, had six rebounds and seven assists for the Nets but failed to score -- missing all five of his shots.

“Good teams win the ugly games,” Kidd said. “We didn’t play extremely well on the offensive end. Our defense did a wonderful job. We are going in the right direction.”

The 65 points equaled the third-fewest given up by the Nets and marked the second dismal effort in two nights for Portland. The Trail Blazers lost, 95-66, at Chicago on Tuesday.

Zach Randolph had 24 points for the Trail Blazers, who dropped their eighth straight on the road.

Denver 101, Indiana 99 -- Carmelo Anthony made an 18-foot fadeaway to break a tie with 2.2 seconds left and finished with 31 points to help the Nuggets improve to 4-1 on their seven-game trip, their longest of the season.

Indiana lost after rallying from a 16-point third-quarter deficit to tie the score with 1:10 left.

Peja Stojakovic led the Pacers with 22 points, but his three-point shot rimmed out at the buzzer.

Detroit 105, Toronto 98 -- Chauncey Billups had 26 points and 10 assists at Toronto as the Pistons shot 71% (10 of 14) from three-point territory.

Morris Peterson scored 23 points and Mike James had 22 for the Raptors, who have lost 10 of their last 13.

Dallas 95, Houston 81 -- Dirk Nowitzki had 30 points and 11 rebounds at Houston to help the Mavericks overcome Yao Ming’s 36 points and 12 rebounds to beat the Rockets for the 12th time in 15 meetings.

Houston dropped to 2-16 without injured leading scorer Tracy McGrady, sidelined March 5 for at least five weeks because of back spasms.

Milwaukee 104, Chicago 88 -- Bobby Simmons scored 26 points, making nine of 13 shots, and Michael Redd had 23 to help the Bucks defeat the visiting Bulls.

Andres Nocioni scored a career-high 25 points for Chicago, which is three games out of the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.

Orlando 114, Utah 108 -- Jameer Nelson scored 25 points, four in overtime, and had nine assists to lead the Magic at Orlando, Fla.

Utah, which missed its last four shots from the field after leading, 107-106, in overtime, got 30 points and 11 rebounds from Mehmet Okur.

Carlos Boozer, starting for the first time this season, also scored 30 and had 10 rebounds for the Jazz.

Washington 107, Charlotte 99 -- Gilbert Arenas scored 12 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter at Washington to lead the Wizards to their third straight victory.

Jumaine Jones scored 25 points in Charlotte’s third consecutive loss.