EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Vince Carter had 43 points, Jason Kidd registered his 67th career triple-double and the Nets took control of their playoff destiny with a 104-83 win over Philadelphia yester day that prevented the 76ers’ from clinching a postseason berth.

Kidd finished with 11 points, 16 assists, and 10 rebounds as the Nets won for the 13th time in 17 games to move into a tie with eighth-place Cleveland (40-40), a game behind Philadelphia (41-39) in the race for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. Each team has two games remaining.

The 76ers’ loss gave the Boston Celtics their first Atlantic Division title in 13 years. Philadelphia, which missed the playoffs last season, can clinch one of the playoff berths with either a win or a Nets’ or Cleveland loss. Philadelphia has home games with Milwaukee and Atlanta on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

New Jersey, which holds the tiebreaker with both Cleveland and Philadelphia, can earn a postseason berth with wins at home on Tuesday against Washington and at Boston on Wednesday.

The Cavaliers will play at home against Boston on Tuesday and at Toronto on Wednesday.

Coming into the game, the Nets needed help and they got it earlier in the day when the NBA champion Detroit Pistons beat LeBron James and the Cavaliers 90-87, sending Cleveland to its eighth loss in 11 games.

With the scent of a fourth straight playoff appearance, the Nets shredded the 76ers with 38 first-quarter points and a season-high 65 in the first half to take an 18-point lead. The 38 first-quarter points were two shy of New Jersey’s best for any quarter.

Not even a 33-point game from Allen Iverson could slow the Nets down and prevent them from reaching the .500 for the first time since four games into the season.

Brian Scalabrine scored the first seven points to get the Nets off fast, and then Carter, who also had 11 rebounds, took over, scoring 11 points in a 19-4 spurt that gave New Jersey a 32-15 lead.

The 40-point game was Carter’s fifth with the Nets this season. He has scored at least 20 points in 36 of the last 38 games. Iverson has scored at least 20 in 56 straight games.

Kidd had five assists on New Jersey’s first seven baskets and did a great defensive job early on Iverson, forcing five first-quarter turnovers.

Philadelphia, which trailed by as many as 23 midway through the third quarter, scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter to cut the Nets’ lead to 83-72.After a time out, Kidd assisted on the first of three straight baskets by rookie Nenad Krstic for a 89-72 lead.

Krstic finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Scalabrine had 13 points and 11 rebounds for New Jersey, which held a 60-51 edge on the boards.

Nets forward Richard Jefferson will be examined by team doctors this week to see if there is any chance he can return to action three months after surgery to repair a ruptured ligament in his left wrist.