The Nets were coming off two consecutive 50-loss seasons when they acquired Kidd from Phoenix in July 2001. With the veteran running the offense, New Jersey went 52-30 the next season and made the first of two straight trips to the NBA finals, developing into an elite team in the Eastern Conference over the next five seasons.

However, after reaching the finals in 2003, the Nets were eliminated once in the first round and three times in the second over the next four seasons. The team opted not to extend his contract and Kidd, who averaged 14.6 points, 9.1 assists and 7.2 rebounds in six-plus seasons with the Nets, was traded to Dallas in February while New Jersey went on to miss the playoffs.

"The things that we accomplished while I was there, nobody can take that away," said Kidd, who is averaging 9.3 points, 8.2 assists and 6.4 rebounds for the 14-10 Mavericks. "We took something that was almost nothing and we had a great ride. Got to the finals twice, made it to the playoffs every year and we brought a lot of respect to New Jersey basketball.

"I did everything I could."

Kidd might be asked to contain New Jersey's Devin Harris, the key player the Nets acquired from Dallas in the trade. The fifth-year point guard is averaging a team-leading 23.8 points with 6.3 assists and has a chance to show the Nets' fans they might have received the better end of the deal.

"It's important," Harris said. "Obviously he's a good part of this organization. It is going to be a lot of emotions in that game. It should be a fun game. I'm really looking forward to it."

Kidd, who had three points and 13 assists in Dallas' 111-91 home victory over the Nets on March 8, will have plenty of help Friday. Dirk Nowitzki had 27 points with 10 rebounds and Jason Terry also scored 27 in the Mavericks' 96-86 victory over Toronto on Wednesday.

Nowitzki is averaging 26.4 points and 9.2 rebounds on the season and 31.3 with 10.2 boards in eight games this month for Dallas, which is 12-3 since losing five in a row. He scored 34 on 10-for-18 shooting in his last meeting with the Nets.

"Dirk is having a great year," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "When he's dialed in, there's nobody better."

Terry, meanwhile, is averaging 25.0 points on 53.5 percent shooting over his last four contests overall.

While dealing with the distractions of Kidd's return, the Nets (12-12) will try to bounce back from a 103-92 loss to Utah on Wednesday.

Vince Carter had 32 points while Harris added 21 with 11 assists, but New Jersey blew a 22-point lead by giving up 72 points and 64 percent shooting in the second half.

Carter is averaging 30.0 points in his last three games since being held to a season-low three in a home loss to Toronto last Friday. He is averaging 22.9 points in 15 career games versus Dallas.

Though the teams split the two-game season series in 2007-08, Dallas has won 14 of the last 16 over New Jersey.