EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Jason Kidd hit a crucial 3-point shot just before the shot clock expired with 57.9 seconds to play and the New Jersey Nets posted a season-high third straight win with a 104-98 decision over the Boston Celtics on Friday night. Vince Carter added 25 points despite playing in foul trouble and Travis Best came off the bench to score a season-high 24 to help the Nets (15-24) draw within 31/2 games of first-place Philadelphia (18-20) in the wide-open and woeful Atlantic Division.

Kidd finished with 14 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, just missing his 62nd career triple-double for the second straight game. Rookie Nenad Krstic added 13 points and a career-best tying 12 rebounds.

Paul Pierce had 22 points to lead the Celtics (18-21), but only six came in the second half. Gary Payton added 16 points, including a 3-pointer with 41.9 seconds to play that got Boston within 98-94 just seconds after Kidd gave New Jersey a 98-91 lead. After Jason Collins hit two free throws with 41.4 seconds to go, Ricky Davis hit a 15-foot jumper to get the Celtics within 100-96.

Kidd gave Boston a little life by missing a a free throw and Davis got the Celtics within 101-98 with a 10-footer with 26.1 seconds left.

Kidd then hit two free throws and Davis, Pierce and Walter McCarty missed 3-point attempts sealing the Nets’ win.

The game had no flow as the officiating crew of Bennett Salvatore, Violet Palmer and Tony Brothers called 60 personal fouls and technicals fouls on Nets coach Lawrence Frank, Celtics coach Doc Rivers and Carter. There was also a defensive three-seconds call against New Jersey and more than a few quizzical looks from both teams after some whistles.

Carter and Kidd, who both came close to having triple-doubles on Wednesday in a win over Milwaukee, helped give the Nets the lead for good in the third quarter.

Carter, who was limited to 16 minutes in the first half, scored 12 points in the opening seven minutes of the third quarter to give New Jersey a 66-60 lead.

Kidd then took over scoring four points the rest of the quarter and setting up Brian Scalabrine for six straight points.

The Nets led by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, but Boston made a run with Al Jefferson scoring six points and Raef LaFrentz adding a 3-pointer in a 9-1 run.

Notes: Best scored 14 second-quarter points, two shy of his previous season high. Carter has scored at least 20 points in four straight games. … Pierce was only 2 of 6 from the field in the second half … McCarty didn’t draw any smiles from Rivers by throwing away a behind-the-back pass in the closing seconds of the third quarter with Boston down seven. … Krstic had his third double-double by halftime, collecting 10 points and 10 rebounds.

AP-ES-01-21-05 2231EST