Kidd lifts Nets past Knicks

? Jason Kidd kept the New Jersey Nets’ playoff hopes alive with his 66th career triple-double and fourth-quarter shove that pretty much put the New York Knicks in their place.

Kidd had 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds, and he hit two game-clinching shots after being called for a technical foul for angrily shoving Jerome Williams in a 110-98 victory on Thursday night that sent New York to its season-high eighth straight loss.

“Kidd is amazing, he does it every night,” Knicks forward Kurt Thomas said. “He brings it and he gets everyone involved.”

The win was the eighth in 11 games for the Nets (37-39), and it moved them within a game of idle Philadelphia (37-37) in the race for the final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey, which also received 32 points from Vince Carter, has six games remaining, two less than the 76ers.

The Kidd play that everyone will remember came with 5:27 to go and the Nets clinging to a 99-91 lead. They had led by 27 points in the third quarter.

With Stephon Marbury dribbling the ball near midcourt and Kidd guarding him, Williams came out 30 feet from the basket and set a late screen. Kidd ran into it and shoved Williams to the court, drawing a technical foul.

New Jersey's Jason Kidd, right, pressures New York's Jamal Crawford. Kidd had 28 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds to propel the Nets past the Knicks, 110-98, Thursday night in East Rutherford, N.J.

Rockets 114, Lakers 100

Los Angeles — Tracy McGrady had 27 points and seven assists, and Houston beat Los Angeles with former Lakers coach Phil Jackson in attendance. The Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak and handed Los Angeles its fifth straight loss and 13th in 14 games.

Mavericks 104, Spurs 68

Dallas — With Devin Harris starting a fast break by throwing a backward, overhead pass while falling down, and Jerry Stackhouse setting up another layup with a behind-the-back pass in the lane, Dallas avoided a season sweep by San Antonio. Keith Van Horn scored 10 of his 17 points during the game-breaking third quarter.