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ATLANTA (AP) – Al Harrington scored 22 points, Josh Smith had 19 and the Atlanta Hawks held on for a 104-102 overtime win over the New Jersey Nets on Monday night.

Vince Carter attempted a long 3-pointer in the final seconds of overtime but it rimmed out and Nenad Krstic also missed a follow attempt for the Atlantic Division-leading Nets, who have lost two straight.

Smith hit a jumper from the corner to tie it at 94 with 4.9 seconds left in regulation, sending the game into overtime. Carter had an earlier chance to win it for the Nets, but fumbled the inbounds pass and his desperation shot from about 20 feet at the buzzer wasn’t even close.

Smith also hit a jumper with 33.9 seconds left in overtime to give Atlanta a 104-100 lead.

Richard Jefferson and Carter scored 22 points apiece for New Jersey. Krstic had 21 points and Jason Kidd had 19 points, a season-high 17 assists and nine rebounds.

The Nets had taken the lead in regulation at 93-92 on a basket by Krstic with 1:44 left. The Hawks had a chance to go ahead, but Johnson had a layup attempt blocked by Krstic with about 27 seconds left. Kidd then hit one of two free throws for a 94-92 lead with 13.9 seconds to play.

Joe Johnson also finished with 19 points for the Hawks and Zaza Pachulia had 14 points and 12 rebounds.

Atlanta led 73-70 after three periods after outscoring the Nets 24-13 in the second quarter to take a 46-37 halftime lead.

Jefferson scored nine points in the first quarter and the Nets led 24-22 after one.

Carter hurt his right hamstring Sunday in a 101-91 loss to Indiana and was questionable until game time.

Notes: Kidd has 71 career triple-doubles. … Salim Stoudamire, suspended for two games by the team for insubordination, scored five straight points early in the second quarter, seconds after entering the game. … The Nets beat the Hawks 99-91 on Dec. 30 in New Jersey in the only meeting between the clubs before Monday night. Carter led New Jersey with 37 points. … The Hawks had lost four in a row and 10 of 12 to the Nets. … Nets F Clifford Robinson played in his 1,304th game, breaking a tie with Elvin Hayes for ninth on the NBA’s career list.

AP-ES-02-27-06 2216EST

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