Nets Put the Heat on Notice

MIAMI — By any standard, the Miami Heat made a huge closing run. It still wasn’t nearly enough to overcome three quarters of miscues and missteps against the New Jersey Nets.

Vince Carter scored 27 points, Jason Kidd added 22 and Richard Jefferson had 20 before leaving because of an ankle injury as the Nets wasted most of a 28-point third-quarter lead before hanging on to beat the Heat, 100-88, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Monday night.

Dwyane Wade scored 25 points for Miami, which got 20 points and 10 rebounds for Shaquille O’Neal -- who sat out most of the first half because of foul trouble. Miami was doomed by 17 turnovers that led to 24 New Jersey points.

“Our goal was to come down here and get one,” said Kidd, who made his first six shots. “Now that we’ve done that, we have to look at this as being 0-0, and now let’s go get the next one.”

New Jersey led, 89-65, with 9:53 left before Miami rallied with an 18-3 run, but the Heat could get no closer.

“We were lucky, obviously, to build that lead, because obviously, Miami made one heck of a run which you have to give them a lot of credit for,” Net Coach Lawrence Frank said. “They’re an outstanding team. ... It’s one game and we’ve just got to keep on getting better.”

X-rays on Jefferson’s ankle were negative and he left the arena in a walking boot.