A recent victory over the New York Knicks clinched a playoff spot for the New Jersey Nets. Another win over their Atlantic Division rival could move the Nets closer to a better seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets will try to beat the Knicks for the second time in four days and sweep the season series when the teams meet Monday at Madison Square Garden.

New Jersey (39-41) defeated New York 100-86 at home Friday to clinch its sixth straight playoff appearance. The loss ensured the Knicks (32-48) would miss the postseason for the third year in a row.

The Nets, who have won their last five visits to Madison Square Garden, are looking for their first season sweep of New York since 2001-02.

Currently the No. 7 seed in the East, the Nets won their second straight game Sunday, 111-107 at Indiana. Meanwhile, Washington lost to Chicago, moving New Jersey within one game of the struggling Wizards for the sixth seed with two games to play.

New Jersey hosts Chicago on Wednesday in its regular-season finale, while Washington, which has lost seven of eight, hosts Orlando on Tuesday and finishes at Indiana on Wednesday.

Sunday's victory improved New Jersey to 11-6 since losing five in a row March 3-10.

"We just want to get better," coach Lawrence Frank said. "We wanted to clinch the playoffs, we did that. Now we just want to get the best possible seed. We are now one step closer to that."

Vince Carter scored 35 points, reserve Bostjan Nachbar added 25 and Jason Kidd had 12 points and 10 assists Sunday for the Nets, who shot 51.3 percent from the field against the Pacers.

Carter, averaging 32.6 points over his last five games, became the first Nets player to surpass the 2,000-point mark for a season.

Kidd, who posted his 87th career triple-double against New York last week, is averaging 15.7 points and 11.3 assists in three games versus the Knicks this season.

New York (32-48) lost 107-105 at Toronto on Sunday - its fourth straight loss and 14th in 17 games since coach Isiah Thomas received a contract extension. The Knicks held the eighth and final playoff spot in the East at the time of the extension.

"Right now we just don't have the weapons, but the effort was there,'' said Thomas, whose team has been hit hard by injuries to players like Jamal Crawford, David Lee and Stephon Marbury.

Eddy Curry had 30 points and Steve Francis added 28 for the Knicks on Sunday.

Curry, who is averaging a career-high 19.5 points, also scored 20 against the Nets on Friday after managing just four points in New York's embarrassing 98-69 loss at Chicago on Tuesday.

Francis, who has dealt with injuries most of the season, had 22 points against the Nets last week, giving him 50 points in his last two games after scoring 51 in his previous eight.

New York closes out the season at Charlotte on Wednesday.