MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 17 (Ticker) -- After visiting potential playoff teams for the past month, the New Jersey Nets finally faced a team they could handle on the road.

Kerry Kittles scored seven of his 19 points during a huge second-quarter run and Keith Van Horn and Jason Kidd recorded double-doubles as the Nets snapped a seven-game road slide with an 87-76 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.

New Jersey has stayed atop the Eastern Conference by remaining dominant at home but had not won away from Continental Airlines Arena since February 21. All of those games were against playoff contenders, with the exception of a loss at Phoenix.

NBA TV highlights from Nets-Grizzlies: 56k | 300k Kerry Kittles slashes his way to the basket and a game-high 19 points. Joe Murphy NBAE/Getty Images

"A lot of big teams have come in here and gotten knocked down by taking (the Grizzlies) lightly," Nets guard Lucious Harris said. "It's a playoff run right now and we can't take anybody lightly, no matter who it is."

The Nets struggled early and trailed, 29-26, with 4:50 left in the second period before Aaron Williams made a jumper to spark a 13-0 run. Kittles scored five straight points before Van Horn capped the spurt with a dunk for a 39-29 advantage.

After Memphis' Rodney Buford sank a jumper, Williams made a layup and Kidd nailed a 3-pointer before Kittles buried a mid-range jump shot for a 46-31 cushion with four seconds left in the first half.

"We came with a business-like attitude, especially in the first half," Scott said. "In the second half we started messing around a little bit, but for the most part we came with the attitude of coming out here and getting the job done."

Memphis closed within 48-41 less than three minutes into the second half, but rookie Richard Jefferson and Kittles made consecutive dunks to extend the lead.

The Grizzlies trailed, 59-50 midway the third quarter and Van Horn, Kittles and Donny Marshall each buried a 3-pointer in the final 4 1/2 minutes as the Nets took a 70-55 cushion into the fourth.

New Jersey shot just 40 percent (33-of-82) from the field, but sank 9-of-18 3-pointers led by Kidd and Kittles, who each nailed 3-of-5 shots from beyond the arc.

Van Horn finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds and Kidd had 12 points and 10 assists, helping the Nets to consecutive wins for the first time since late February.

New Jersey played without forward Kenyon Martin, who served a one-game suspension after picking up his seventh flagrant foul of the season on Friday.

"Kenyon's our energizer and when he's not there we're not the same team," Scott said. "He helps us in so many different ways that we missed. I'm just glad we got the W."

Pau Gasol had 18 points and nine rebounds and Willie Solomon scored 14 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost three straight and 12 of their last 14 games.

Memphis shot just 36 percent (29-of-80) and committed 18 turnovers leading to 17 points for New Jersey.

"We did not play as well as we can, we didn't click at all," Grizzlies coach Sidney Lowe said. "We didn't rotate. We didn't communicate. We didn't hit shots. Even when we got stops we couldn't score the ball."