EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) Richard Jefferson had 27 points and 10 rebounds and the Nets posted their ninth straight win _ eighth in a row under new coach Lawrence Frank, rallying to beat the Detroit Pistons 89-78 on Tuesday night.

Jason Kidd added 16 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in a gritty 43-minute performance as New Jersey overcame a 13-point first-quarter deficit and improved to 8-0 under Frank. The 33-year-old replaced Byron Scott more than two weeks ago as the coach of the two-time defending Eastern Conference champs.

Kenyon Martin added 13 points and eight rebounds and Kerry Kittles had 17 points as the Nets posted their ninth straight double-digit win and sent the Pistons to their fourth straight loss.

Chauncey Billups had 23 points and Richard Hamilton added 19 for Detroit, which made only 18 field goals in the final three quarters after making 12 in the first, when the shot 54.5 percent in taking a 29-16 lead.

Lakers 98, Heat 83

MIAMI (AP) Shaquille O'Neal had 25 points and Derek Fisher came off the bench to score eight of his season-high 18 points in the fourth quarter, helping Los Angeles post consecutive wins for the first time since mid-January.

O'Neal scored 19 of his points in the second half on 9-for-12 shooting, and the Lakers overcame an early 14-point deficit.

Dwyane Wade had 19 points for Miami, which dropped its fifth straight _ the team's worst slide since opening the season with seven consecutive losses. Miami (21-32) is now a season-worst 11 games under .500.

The Lakers were again without All-Star guard Kobe Bryant, who missed his seventh game because of a lacerated right index finger.

Timberwolves 96, Clippers 84

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Kevin Garnett was one rebound short of a double-double in the first quarter and finished with 31 points and 16 rebounds, leading the Minnesota over the Clippers.

Garnett set the tone for this one with 14 points in the opening period, and the Timberwolves built a lead as big as 17 in the first half.

Gary Trent scored 15 points, Sam Cassell, who went scoreless until making back-to-back jumpers midway through the third quarter, had eight points and 12 assists, and Latrell Sprewell had 17 points for Minnesota.

Corey Maggette had a season-high 34 points for the Clippers, who lost their third straight. Elton Brand added 12 points.

Kings 124, Bucks 117

MILWAUKEE (AP) Peja Stojakovic scored 31 points and sank all four of his free throws in the final 20 seconds to help Sacramento hold off Milwaukee.

The Bucks took a 115-114 lead on Michael Redd's layup with a 1:02 left, but Vlade Divac's wide-open 15-foot jumper gave the Kings the lead for good 20 seconds later and sparked a game-ending 10-2 run.

The Bucks had a chance to send the game into overtime after Stojakovic's two free throws made it 120-117 with 17 seconds left. But Desmond Mason fired a hurried-up, off-balance 3-pointer that missed badly with 8 seconds left.

Brad Miller then sank four free throws in the final seven seconds.

Mike Bibby scored 24 points and Miller 21 for the Kings. Mason and Toni Kukoc each scored 21 off the bench for Milwaukee.

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