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

The Rockets got within seven, but Carter sank three more 3-pointers in the final 4:20 of the third quarter and the Nets led 68-55 heading to the fourth. The Rockets got no closer than nine in the fourth quarter.

Kidd notched the triple-double when he passed to Richard Jefferson for a 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds left.

Houston has lost two in a row after winning seven of the previous nine. The Rockets have lost two of three since McGrady was sidelined for the fourth time this season with a back injury.

McGrady sat out for the 16th time because of his ailing back. Doctors say his latest injury resulted from a fall in the Rockets' win at Portland on March 5. McGrady had an MRI on Saturday and was undergoing more tests in the next two days, the Rockets said.

(AP via China Daily March 14, 2006)