EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? One of the luckiest bounces of Vince Carter’s career — five or six bounces, actually — couldn’t keep the New Jersey Nets from falling behind, 3-0, to the Miami Heat.

Carter forced double overtime with a shot that danced all around the backboard and rim before dropping through, but there was no more magic for the Nets after that in a 108-105 double-overtime loss to the Heat on Thursday night.

Now, the problem confronting New Jersey is one that no NBA team ever has solved — overcoming a 3-0 deficit in a best-of-seven series.

Miami can complete a sweep Sunday, and it’s highly unlikely that game will come close to matching the drama of this one.

Shaquille O’Neal had his best game of the series with 25 points, Udonis Haslem had the final go-ahead basket among his 14 points and 19 rebounds, Dwyane Wade had 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Eddie Jones added 20 points for the Heat

Carter scored 36, Richard Jefferson had 23, and Jason Kidd had a triple-double of 16 points, 13 assists and 16 rebounds for the Nets, whose best chance to win came at the end of regulation when Kidd had an open shot from three-point range.

But he couldn’t connect, and Carter’s crazy bounce only ended up prolonging the Nets’ plight.