Nets hang on for 100-88 victory

Miami worked hard in the fourth quarter to cut a 28-point deficit.
MIAMI (AP) -- By any standard, the Miami Heat made a huge closing run. It still wasn't nearly enough to overcome three quarters of miscues and missteps against the New Jersey Nets.
Vince Carter scored 27 points, Jason Kidd added 22 and Richard Jefferson had 20 before leaving the game with an ankle injury as the Nets saw most of a 28-point third-quarter lead vanish before hanging on to beat the Heat 100-88 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Monday night.
Dwyane Wade scored 25 points for Miami, which got 20 points and 10 rebounds for Shaquille O'Neal -- who was not effective until late, sitting most of the first half with foul trouble. Jason Williams added 12 points for the Heat, who were doomed by 17 turnovers that led to 24 New Jersey points.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Miami.
Cliff Robinson's 3-pointer with 9:53 left gave New Jersey an 89-65 lead, and many fans who booed the Heat on at least three occasions continued a steady stream up the stairs and into the Miami night.
Valiant comeback
They missed a valiant comeback, one that ended in vain.
Miami rallied with an 18-3 run over the next 51/2 minutes. O'Neal had 11 points in the burst, including a putback to close the run with 4:21 left that drew Miami within 92-83.
But Carter answered with five straight New Jersey points, and Kidd delivered a backbreaking jumper with 1:56 left to restore a 13-point lead and slam the door on Miami.
Nenad Krstic added 11 points for New Jersey, which got nine rebounds and seven assists from Kidd. Udonis Haslem had 10 points for Miami.
The tone for this one was set early. O'Neal won the opening tip-off, and Williams made an open layup 10 seconds later to give the Heat the lead.
Until the fourth, that was about the only moment where the home crowd could cheer.
New Jersey used a 12-0 first-quarter burst to build its cushion, then a 13-0 run in the third quarter to take firm control -- and take away home-court advantage from the Heat, who swept the Nets in the last season's opening playoff round but have now lost the last four meetings with New Jersey by an average of 11 points.
By the midway point of the first quarter, the outcome looked all but decided. O'Neal was on the bench with two quick fouls, the Heat were turning the ball over on more than half their possessions, and the Nets simply wouldn't miss.
Jefferson -- who left in the third quarter -- was 4-for-4 for 11 points in the first 3:55, staking New Jersey to an 18-5 lead.
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