Nets, Carter win in Houston

Vince Carter scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half Monday night to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 90-77 road win over the Houston Rockets.

Jason Kidd had 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, his sixth triple-double of the season. Kidd has 73 career triple-doubles and needs five to tie Wilt Chamberlain for third all-time.

Cliff Robinson added 15 points for the Nets, who've won all 28 games they've led after three quarters.

Yao Ming scored 36 points for the Rockets, playing their third straight game without Tracy McGrady, who's out up to five weeks with another back injury.

Yao, who was averaging 27.5 points and 13 rebounds in 10 games since the All-Star break, went 9-of-17 from the field, most of them quick turnaround hook shots. He also went 18-for-20 from the free throw line.

The rest of the team, though, shot 17-of-59 from the field. The Rockets shot 17-of-55 over the final three quarters, when they were outscored 77-51.

Yao had 10 points in the first six minutes and the Rockets built an early nine-point lead.

The Nets missed 15 of their first 22 shots, then went 8-of-12 during a 16-6 run early in the second quarter.

Yao had 19 at the break, but New Jersey led 47-41 by holding the rest of the Rockets to 10-for-34 shooting in the first half.

Carter had a fadeaway jumper and a 3-pointer during an 11-2 Nets run to open the second half. Rafer Alston hit a running one-hander, but Robinson sank a 3-pointer to put New Jersey up 59-45.

BUCKS 88, HAWKS 87: At Milwaukee, the Bucks snapped their longest home losing streak in six years at five games when Bobby Simmons scored 18 points and Michael Redd added 16.

Milwaukee still looked lethargic, blowing a 17-point lead in the second half before coming from behind to win. Milwaukee had won six in a row at home after a victory Valentine's Day against Seattle, but since went sour — losing eight of the last 12 overall to fall below .500 in the Eastern Conference.

NUGGETS 108, KNICKS 96: At New York, Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points, 12 in the third quarter when the game turned into a rout. Andre Miller added 16 points and former Knicks center Marcus Camby had 10 points and 18 rebounds for the Nuggets, who pulled away in the second half and improved to 3-1 on their season-high seven-game road trip.

Stephon Marbury scored 25 points for the Knicks, who have lost two straight and have the NBA's worst record. Channing Frye added 16.