By The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – One of the luckiest bounces of Vince Carter’s career – five or six bounces, actually – couldn’t keep the New Jersey Nets from falling behind 3-0 to the Miami Heat.

Carter forced double overtime with a shot that danced all around the backboard and rim before dropping through, but there was no more magic for the Nets after that in a 108-105 double-overtime loss to the Heat on Thursday night.

Now, the problem confronting New Jersey is one that no NBA team has ever sol ved – overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

Miami can complete a sweep Sunday, and it’s highly unlikely that game will come close to matching the drama of this one.

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 added 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 when Kidd had an open shot from 3-point range.

But he couldn’t connect, and Carter’s crazy bounce only ended up prolonging the Nets’ plight for another five minutes.

Haslem’s putback made it 104-102 with 1:26 left, and a missed 3 by Clifford Robinson and a blown layup by Jefferson helped seal New Jersey’s defeat.

The Nets were hurt by their 3-for-13 shooting from 3-point range and nine missed free throws in 27 attempts.

Miami went 10-for-22 on 3s to help overcome 16 missed foul shots in 38 attempts.

Mavs 106, Rockets 102

HOUSTON – Playing with the desperation of a team facing elimination, even though they weren’t, the Dallas Mavericks clawed their way back into their first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night.

It took a rejuvenated Dirk Nowitzki to save them in a 106-102 victory.

Nowitzki emerged from a two-game slump to score 28 points and keyed a 17-0 run in the fourth quarter that deflated the Rockets in Game 3.

Michael Finley scored 20 points, Jerry Stackhouse added 18 and Josh Howard had five big points in the late comeback, ending Houston’s nine-game win streak and finally giving the Mavericks confidence that they can keep up with the surging Rockets.

Dallas has a chance to even the Western Conference series in Game 4 Saturday night. Game 5 is in Dallas on Monday night.

Trailing 88-80 early in the fourth quarter, the Mavericks seemed on their way to a 3-0 series deficit – a hole no NBA team has ever rallied from.

But Finley hit a jumper, Nowitzki dunked on a fast break, Finley buried another 3 and Jason Terry made a couple of free throws to retake the lead midway through the quarter.

The Mavs also got some help down the stretch from Houston.

Tracy McGrady missed two free throws, Houston misfired on seven straight shots and the Rockets showed an uncharacteristic lack of poise – especially for the league’s oldest team.

Howard, a second-year forward who’s been clutch for the Mavs in the postseason, completed a three-point play and scored on a short jumper to finish off the run, putting Dallas ahead 100-88.

McGrady had another big game for the Rockets, finishing with 28 points, nine rebounds and six assists, while Bob Sura added 21 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.