EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? After leading the New Jersey Nets to their best NBA season, Jason Kidd has taken them someplace new in the postseason their first Eastern Conference finals.

Kidd scored 23 points and made several plays in the fourth quarter that swung the momentum New Jersey’s way as the Nets defeated the Hornets 103-95 Wednesday night, ending the Hornets’ 14-year existence in Charlotte.

New Jersey's Jason Kidd, right, reacts after being fouled by Charlotte's Baron Davis (1). The Nets beat the Hornets, 103-95, on Wednesday in East Rutherford, N.J.

“Jason has been like this in big games all season long,” Nets coach Byron Scott. “He has been the one guy who has done a little of everything for us and tonight was no different. He didn’t want to lose this game.”

The Nets, who stunned the NBA by posting the best record in the conference (56-26) just a year after going 26-56, will play the Boston Celtics in the next round beginning Sunday.

It will be a series matching a team whose only championships came in the old ABA against the NBA’s most successful franchise with 16 titles.

But this is a Nets team that has come full cycle, from Dr. J to J-Kidd.

“I came in with the attitude that on paper we had some talented guys and my job was to get them to play and have confidence in each other,” said Kidd, who was acquired in an offseason trade with Phoenix for Stephon Marbury.

Kidd did just that.

The other key for the Nets was defense.

New Jersey held Charlotte to one field goal in the final 7:37. In winning this best-of-seven series 4-1, the Nets gained each of their victories with tenacious fourth-quarter defense. This foul-marred game was no different.

“The fourth quarter seems to be our time,” said Nets center Todd MacCulloch, who had a big putback basket after a Kidd steal. “When it comes down to six minutes left, five minutes left, we’re going to do a good job defensively. We were able to take them out of what they wanted to do. Then, we just get it to J and he has enough energy left to turn it up.”

The game changed in the Nets’ favor after Baron Davis fouled out going up against Collins for a defensive rebound with 5:36 to play.

“I don’t think I fouled him,” said Davis, who finished with 13 points. “The call was made and it turned the game around.”

Charlotte’s next field goal was a three-pointer by David Wesley with 20 seconds to play.

With the officials calling 22 fouls in the final quarter and 77 in the game, the Hornets managed to stay alive in the fourth quarter as Lee Nailon and Jamaal Magliore alternated trips to the foul line.

Two free throws by Magliore gave the Hornets an 89-86 with 5:18 to play.

Kenyon Martin then made one of two free throws to cut the lead to two points and Kidd, who had 13 assists, set up Kerry Kittles for a go-ahead three-pointer with 4:39 to go.

The next play might have sealed the fate of the Hornets, who are moving to New Orleans next season.

After Wesley brought the ball upcourt and threw a pass to his left, Kidd reached out, got a hand on the pass and stole the ball. MacCulloch scored on a putback, and the Nets were ahead 92-89.

New Jersey scored seven of the next nine points, with Keith Van Horn hitting a long three-pointer with 2:31 to play that got the sellout crowd out of their seats as Van Horn danced at center court with his hands in the air.

“I thought at that point we had it,” said Van Horn, who finished with 16 points. “In tight games like that you see shots that dramatically change the way the game goes, and I felt that was one of them.”

Kittles finished with 18 points. Martin finished with 14 points.