East Rutherford, NJ (Best E Casino) - Vince Carter had 17 points and 10 assists as the New Jersey Nets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 92-88, at the IZOD Center.

Jason Kidd barely missed his 100th career triple-double -- finishing with nine points, nine assists and 10 rebounds, while Richard Jefferson added 13 points and a game- high 12 rebounds for the Nets, who have won three straight. Bostjan Nachbar scored 14 points, all in the second half for New Jersey.

"He was really good tonight," said Richard Jefferson of Nachbar. "He was really patient and really efficient. It seemed he was in the right place at the right time and he took advantage of it."

Sebastian Telfair scored 24 points and Al Jefferson added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have dropped four straight and 11 of 16 overall. Antoine Walker scored 12 points for Minnesota, which shot just 36.5 percent from the floor.

"It was one of those nights where we didn't make shots and we turned some shots down that made it more difficult," said Minnesota coach Randy Wittman. "We got to get back to making simple plays."

With the score tied 46-46 with 5:21 left in the third quarter, a Josh Boone hook shot sparked a 20-10 spurt that put the Nets ahead for good. Nachbar scored 10 during the run, and his two free throws with 30 seconds left in the frame put New Jersey up 66-56.

Carter's highlight reel driving dunk to open the fourth pushed the Nets lead to 68-56 but Minnesota still had to some fight left. An old-fashioned three- point play by Telfair with 2:25 remaining pulled the Timberwolves within 82-78 with 2:25 remaining.

Kidd, though, responded for the Nets drilling a triple with 2:02 to go to give the Nets a seven-point cushion. After Telfair hit two free throws to cut Minnesota's deficit to 85-80, New Jersey's Jefferson made two of his own putting the lead back at seven with 1:38 to go.

Al Jefferson then missed a jumper and Nachbar made one on the other end, giving the Nets a 89-80 lead with 1:11 showing on the clock.

Al Jefferson's hook shot again closed the margin to seven, 89-82, but Boone's alley-oop dunk with 39 ticks left sealed the win for the Nets.

New Jersey led 38-35 after an uneventful first half.

Game Notes

New Jersey shot 42.2 percent...New Jersey outrebounded Minnesota 54-46...The Timberwolves, who have dropped three in a row on the road, are a dismal 2-23 as the visitor this season...New Jersey's Nenad Krstic scored 10 points...The Nets had 30 total assists...Announced attendance was 14,975 but due to wintry weather half that many showed up.