New Jersey's Vince Carter scored 51 points to lead the division-leading Nets to a 95-88 win over the Miami Heat for their fifth straight National Basketball Association victory.
Carter's point total in Friday's road game matches a career high. Miami star Shaquille O'Neal had 24 points and 14 rebounds in the Heat's losing effort.
In another high-scoring performance, Philadelphia star Allen Iverson netted 53 points, but it was not enough to stop the Atlanta Hawks from edging the 76ers 111-108. Atlanta has won five of its last six games, but remains in last place in its Southeast division.
The Dallas Mavericks rallied from a 12-point deficit to beat the Seattle SuperSonics 101-98. Jason Terry made a pair of three-point shots in the final two minutes to help the visiting Mavs win for the 10th time in 12 games. He had 19 points for the night. Seattle has lost six of its last nine contests.
The Washington Wizards held on to edge the host Phoenix Suns 112-111. Gilbert Arenas led Washington with 41 points.
Other NBA winners Friday were the Lakers, Clippers, Pistons, Knicks, Grizzlies, Cavaliers, Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Bucks, and Spurs.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Orlando Magic 104-88, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 97-88, the Detroit Pistons won 97-85 over the Golden State Warriors, and the Utah Jazz lost 98-90 to the New York Knicks. The Memphis Grizzlies trounced the Chicago Bulls 95-77, the Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Indiana Pacers with a 94-89 victory, and the Portland Trail Blazers overpowered the Minnesota Timberwolves 91-83. The Denver Nuggets routed the Houston Rockets 108-86, the Milwaukee Bucks knocked off the New Orleans Hornets 101-94, and the defending champion San Antonio Spurs topped the Toronto Raptors 95-90.
