EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Rookie Nenad Krstic returned to the lineup after missing two game with a viral infection and scored a career-high 25 points to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 93-86 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night.
Vince Carter added 28 points and Jason Kidd had 11 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Nets snapped a two-game losing streak by beating the expansion Bobcats for the third time this season.
Wins over Charlotte have ended New Jersey’s losing streaks of nine, three and now two games.
Gerald Wallace had 23 points to lead the Bobcats, who made the Nets sweat this one out, cutting a 13-point halftime deficit to 67-66 early in the fourth quarter on a 3-pointer by Jason Kapono.
With Kidd sitting on the bench for a rest, Krstic and Carter then combined on a 9-0 run. Carter hit two free throws to get the spurt started and Krstic scored the next seven points. The 7-footer from Serbia-Montenegro capped the run by taking a pass from Carter and dunking for a 76-66 lead with 9:07 to play.
Krstic shot 9-of-12 from the field and also had five rebounds before fouling out with 1:16 to play. His previous high was 18 points.
Primoz Brezec added 14 points and rookie Emeka Okafor had six points on 3-for-10 shooting. He also had 10 rebounds.
The Nets again had third-quarter problems, which is what hurt them in recent losses to Toronto and Milwaukee after the All-Star break. The Bobcats outscored New Jersey 20-12 in the quarter and closed a 13-point deficit to 67-62.
The Nets were ahead 42-29 when Krstic went to the bench with 6:24 to go in the first half.
The Bobcats scored the next 10 points, drawing within 42-39 on a fast-break dunk by Wallace.
After a New Jersey called timeout, Krstic was put back in the lineup and the Nets closed the quarter with a 13-3 spurt to take a 55-42 lead. Carter scored the first five points and Krstic and Kidd had four apiece.
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