EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., March 30 (Ticker) -- The streaking New Jersey Nets continued their playoff push at the expense of the road-weary Los Angeles Clippers.

Vince Carter scored 31 points and Jason Kidd and the Nets put on a clinic in crisp ball movement with a season-high 34 assists in a 95-78 victory over the Clippers.

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New Jersey (34-38), which entered the game 2 1/2 games behind Philadelphia for the eighth spot in the East, won for the seventh time in its last nine games, while Los Angeles fell to 0-3 on its seven-game road trip.

The Clippers (32-40) were coming off a 94-84 loss at Cleveland on Tuesday and were a step slow on defense. The Nets took advantage of the sluggish Clippers with assists on each of their first 10 baskets.

"We wanted to try and test their confidence early, to get off to a fast start," said Nets guard Jacque Vaughn, who had 10 points and five assists.

"It was a combination of us being sharp and the Clippers being shorthanded and playing last night," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said.

Kidd assisted on six and Carter three of the team's first 10 baskets. Kidd finished with 13 assists and scored all eight of his points in the second half.

"It's never been about scoring or shooting, just find the open guy and make it easy," Kidd said. "To control a game without scoring is not easy. Most people could not do it if you asked them."

The highlight of the game came at 7:25 of the first quarter. Vaughn made a steal and sprung Kidd on a fast break. Kidd drove the right side of the lane against 19-year-old rookie Shaun Livingston, then lofted a blind finger roll off the backboard that the trailing Carter dunked with authority to make it 13-4.

"Once I saw (Livingston) committed to block the shot, I knew he could not defense it," Kidd said. "I knew it was a done deal once Jacque got the steal."

"Jay's fearless," Carter said. "I don't think Livingston knew what was going on."

By halftime, New Jersey had 18 assists on 22 buckets and a 52-38 lead behind Carter's 20 points.

"We tried to get the ball and run," Carter said. "If they wanted to run, they'd have to run with us for two quarters or three quarters straight."

Nenad Krstic scored 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting for the Nets, who improved to 23-10 when the rookie scores in double figures.

Corey Maggette scored 17 points but Elton Brand added only seven for the Clippers.

Los Angeles closed to 28-25 after one quarter, but Carter countered with seven points in the first 3:33 of the second quarter to rebuild the advantage to 10 points.

"We couldn't stop Carter, and they made a ton of outside shots against our zone," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Right now we're a little shorthanded in that position, so the guys we have guarding (Carter), basically we have a point guard on him."

Clippers center Chris Kaman left the game after eight minutes due to back spasms. Sharing similar ailments, guard Quinton Ross missed the game. Maggette, who played 37 minutes, was questionable prior to the opening tip.