Carter scored 30 points with season highs of 10 assists and four blocks as the Nets rolled to a 99-82 victory over the Utah Jazz.
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"Whatever needs to be done to get a win, that's the mentality," Carter said. "Just contribute, do it for the team, be aggressive. It's not really the points that matter, it's just doing things for your team to get a win, some nights it's scoring, some nights it's rebounding, some nights it's finding the open man."
"Needless to say, that was one heck of an effort," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "We talk about priority games. This was our fifth game in seven nights, the last game of the road trip, a huge character-type game. And I think our character shined quite brightly."
The Jazz got as close as 29-24 early in the second quarter. But Carter connected on two consecutive 3-pointers, and the Nets led by double digits the rest of the way.
Once again, Utah coach Jerry Sloan was disappointed with his team's performance.
"They did a terrific job of getting everything they wanted ... We just kept playing into their hands all night long," he said. "I think (the Jazz players) felt sorry for themselves every time New Jersey made a basket. Every time they made a tough shot or 3-point shot, we'd drop our head down like, 'Wow, we need help.' We're finding some things out about some people, about how bad they really want to play."
Falling just short of a triple-double with eight rebounds, Carter also showed off the aerial display that has made him one of the most popular stars in the NBA. Jason Kidd fed Carter near the basket and he wowed the crowd with a windmill dunk that made gave the Nets their largest lead at 82-56 with 1:23 left in the third period.
It was the second-straight 30-point game for Carter, and his fifth such effort since being traded from the Raptors in mid-December. He and Kidd, who added 19 points and 10 assists, combined for just three turnovers.
During their winning streak, the Nets' backcourt duo is averaging 42.3 points and 19 assists.
"I think we're both taking the initiative to be aggressive," Carter said. "It doesn't have to be just scoring, it could be getting in the lane, drawing double-teams, finding the open guy. ... For me, it's been a process to get comfortable learning the plays and learning the system. Now I'm just trying to feed off of Jason and trying to be a tandem, a tough tandem."
"(Vince) makes the game easier, and I try to make it easier for him," Kidd said. "We just try to play off of each other. I don't think people really talk about his passing and how he's so unselfish. He can find the open guy with the best of 'em."
Raja Bell came off the bench to score 20 points but was the only player in double figures for the Jazz, who have lost four of their last five games.
For the Nets, it was the perfect end to a West Coast road trip that did not start well. After dropping a heartbreaker to Phoenix on Jan. 23 and getting blown out two nights later by Sacramento, the Nets have put together consecutive wins over Golden State, the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah.
"I think everybody's happy with the performance on this trip," Kidd said. "I think we're getting used to each other, but the biggest thing is, we've got to keep building on it. The way this trip started, it didn't look good. But we stuck together and played hard and played Nets basketball, and we came out 3-2."
