NBA: New Jersey 106, New York 91

NEW YORK, March 24 (UPI) -- Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Nenad Krstic combined for 75 points Monday, powering the New Jersey Nets to a 106-91 victory over the New York Knicks.

Carter scored 27 points, Jefferson 26 and Krstic had 22 points for the Nets, who pulled within one game of Atlanta for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New Jersey won for just the fourth time in its last 13 contests.

New Jersey finished 1-3 against the Knicks this season. New York lost its bid to sweep the season series from its Atlantic Division rival for the first time since the 1990-91 season.

Jamal Crawford had 26 points and eight assists for the Knicks, who have lost 12 of their last 13 games. They last dropped seven in a row at home during the 1963-64 season.

At 19-51, the Knicks are nine losses away from possibly their first 60-defeat campaign in franchise history.