EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Jason Kidd scored 28 points and made two free throws with 18 seconds left to help New Jersey defeat Orlando 96-93 last night, hours after the Magic traded star guard Steve Francis.

Richard Jefferson added 23 points and Vince Carter scored 22 for New Jersey, which has won seven of its last nine games. Keyon Dooling scored 23 to lead Orlando, which has lost eight straight and 12 of 13.

Playing without Francis, their leading scorer at 16 points per game, the Magic still managed to hang with the Nets until the final seconds when Carlos Arroyo’s 3-point attempt rimmed out.

Before that, New Jersey looked to be in good shape when Carter drew Dooling’s fifth foul and Kidd scored on a driving left-handed layup to give the Nets an 85-80 lead with under four minutes to play. But Pat Garrity rattled in a 3-pointer and Dooling, left alone 18 feet from the basket, sank the jumper to tie the game at 85.

Kidd responded with a 3-pointer and, after Dooling missed a jumper, a drive down the right side for another score to restore the lead to five points. Garrity sank another 3-pointer to cut the lead to 94-92 with 27 seconds left, and Carter missed a foul shot after an intentional foul. On the ensuing possession, Kidd made two free throws to push the lead to 96-92. Dwight Howard (17 points) made one of two free throws for Orlando before Arroyo’s miss.

Trailing by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, New Jersey rallied to take the lead as Carter, Jefferson, and Kidd combined for 10 points to turn a 68-59 deficit into a 69-68 lead. Orlando cooled off during the quarter, making only five of 18 shots after shooting 68% (23- for-34) in the first half.

Orlando’s backcourt more than compensated for the loss of Francis in the first 24 minutes with a dazzling shooting display. Starters DeShawn Stevenson (12 points) and Dooling (14) combined with Arroyo (10) off the bench to shoot 15-for-20 and provide the bulk of the Magic’s offense.

The Nets led 22-19 late in the first quarter before Orlando took the lead on an 8-0 run and maintained an advantage the rest of the half. In the second quarter, the three guards combined for 20 of Orlando’s 27 points.

They made their presence known in other ways as well. Arroyo could be seen at one point jawing with Carter, and in the final seconds of the half Dooling outhustled Kidd to a loose ball, knocking it off Kidd and out of bounds. Dooling’s free throw at the other end enabled the Magic to end the half with their biggest lead at 56-46.