After LaPhonso Ellis hit a basket to cut New Jersey's lead to 85-84 with eight minutes left, Kittles hit a jumper and 3-pointer to start an 8-0 run over the next two minutes.
Eddie House stopped the surge with a 3-pointer with 5:05 to play, but Miami could get no closer than six points thereafter.
"This was a heck of a win," New Jersey coach Byron Scott said. "The Heat are a lot better than that 8-24 record. They play aggressive and physical basketball and run their stuff about as well as anyone in this league. For our guys to win this game the way we did, it was just a heck of a win for everyone."
 Aaron Williams thwarted a Heat comeback with two huge blocks in the fourth quarter, starting with this one on Brian Grant. Noren Trotman /NBAE/Getty Images |
"I think this was the first time that we had seven different guys score in double figures and that says a lot, especially against a team like Miami that plays so aggressive on the defensive end," Scott said.
"That's the type of team we are," Van Horn said. "I think you are going to see that from us all year and it puts a lot of pressure on opposing defenses when you have so many different options."
Alonzo Mourning had 26 points and 15 rebounds for his fifth double-double in six games for Miami. Brian Grant added 15 and 10 for the Heat, who outshot the Nets, 53 percent (38-of-72) to 49 percent (36-of-73).
"They executed and knocked down their shots," Mourning said. "We can't just trade baskets with a team. We have to utilize one of our biggest strengths, which is our defense. For the past couple of games we relied on that. Tonight we didn't bring it enough."
"Our problem was a defensive problem," Miami coach Pat Riley said. "We shot 52 percent, made enough shots. We just could not get a handle on shutting them down."
After Grant scored on a three-point play with 10:18 to go in the second quarter to cut Miami's deficit to 30-29, New Jersey went on a 32-16 run that was capped by an alley-oop dunk by rookie Richard Jefferson with 44 seconds left.
But Miami scored the last five points of the half, with the final three coming on a heave from beyond half-court by Rod Strickland that banked in at the buzzer to make it 62-50.
Miami registered the last basket of the third period to cut New Jersey's lead to 80-74 entering the final 12 minutes. Mourning tied it at 80-80 on a 16-foot jumper with 10:15 left, but Aaron Williams made a layup 17 seconds later to give the Nets the lead for good.
"We had a good game plan but I don't think we executed defensively in the first half," Grant said. "Second half, we did a better job, but we were playing catch-up most of the game. Even when we tied it up, bam, they catch us with a backdoor or a nice little jumper. We definitely had a chance to win it."
The Nets held an advantage at the line, converting 27-of-35 free throws to 16-of-18 for the Heat.
"They are a hard team to guard because there is a lot of movement," Riley said. "But when you're making outside shots and then they are making back cuts, a lot of the movements create fouls and stuff. It was 22-10 in the second half at the free-throw line."
New Jersey improved to 2-0 against Miami this season despite playing without Kenyon Martin, who served the second game of a two-game suspension for throwing a punch at Orlando's Tracy McGrady last Friday.
"(Nets President and GM) Rod Thorn made moves this summer," said Kittles. "He made sure this team had depth. Not just players who can come in, but players who can really play."
"They had one player who had a great night but we had seven guys tonight who had good nights," said Todd MacCulloch, who scored 12 points before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. "That seems to be how this team is successful and I think we will continue to be. If everyone does a little bit, you will win ball games."