Nets Rally, Then Beat Heat 107-103 in OT

[December 21, 2007]  MIAMI (AP) -- Vince Carter scored 31 points, Richard Jefferson added 29 and the New Jersey Nets overcame a seven-point deficit late in regulation before beating the Miami Heat 107-103 in overtime Thursday night.

Carter was 10-for-10 from the line, including four in overtime.

Former Miami forward Malik Allen scored a season-high 18 points on 9-for-11 shooting, Jason Kidd had 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Josh Boone scored five of his 11 points in overtime for the Nets.

Dwyane Wade had his second season-high scoring effort in two nights for Miami - and saw both wasted in overtime losses. He scored 41 points on 15-for-23 shooting Thursday, one night after scoring 37 points in defeat at Atlanta.

Udonis Haslem had 18 points and 13 rebounds, including the overtime-forcing basket at the end of regulation, for Miami - which dropped to 3-9 at home and, at 7-19 overall, is 12 games under .500 for the first time since the end of the 2002-03 season.

Dorell Wright finished with 13 points, and Shaquille O'Neal had 12 points and seven rebounds in 36 minutes before fouling out of his fourth straight game, a new career high.

Down by seven with 4:52 left in the fourth, the Nets nearly found a way to win in regulation.

Carter's 3-pointer with 10 seconds left put New Jersey up 94-92, but Haslem controlled a low pass from Wade and hit a 19-footer over Kidd as time expired, sending Miami into overtime for the second straight night.

Wade started the extra period with a steal and dunk, but that would be Miami's only lead of overtime. Allen and Boone scored consecutive baskets midway through the period to put the Nets up by four, and they stayed ahead the rest of the way.

[Associated Press; By TIM REYNOLDS]

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