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

"Our goal was to come down here and get one," Kidd said. "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."

Jefferson -- who left in the third quarter -- was 4-for-4 for 11 points in the first 3:55, staking New Jersey to an 18-5 lead. X-rays on Jefferson's ankle were negative and he left the arena in a walking boot.

"It's hurt," Frank said, clearly concerned.