MILWAUKEE – Vince Carter scored 25 points and Jason Kidd had a triple-double as the Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 95-83 yesterday in a potential first-round playoff preview.

It was the Nets’ third straight win over the Bucks, who haven’t beaten New Jersey since November. The Nets got back on track after its 14-game winning streak was snapped Saturday by Cleveland.

Milwaukee lost its fourth straight and fell three games below .500, its low mark this season.

New Jersey has clinched the Atlantic Division title and sits in the no. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks currently are the no. 6 seed but have two games remaining against Washington, the current fifth seed.

Kidd hit three 3-pointers in a twominute stretch in the third quarter, capping a 19-4 run that gave the Nets a 72-52 lead with 3:05 remaining.

Kidd had 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for the 75th triple-double of his career and eighth of the season. His first 3-pointer came after Bucks guard T.J. Ford nonchalantly reached for an easy defensive rebound and whiffed, allowing New Jersey to retain possession.

Ford had 19 points to lead the Bucks,who got off to a slow start without Ford,falling behind 31-12 at the end of the first quarter.

Nets guard Antoine Wright left the game in the second quarter with a strained left quadriceps and missed the rest of the game.

***

KNICKS WIN THIRD STRAIGHT Jamal Crawford scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, leading the Knicks over the Boston Celtics 101-86 yesterday.

The victory was the Knicks’ third straight, just their second three gamewinning streak this season. The other came when they won six in a row in early January.

Nate Robinson finished with 12 points for the Knicks,who outscored the Celtics 31-10 in the fourth quarter. Jackie Butler added 10 points.

Paul Pierce led Boston with 19 points, but scored just one point in the final quarter.