The Nets (26-33) enter 1-1/2 games behind the Bucks (29-33), who hold down the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Bulls (27-33) also are in the immediate locale, one full game behind the Bucks,-1/2 game ahead of the Nets. The Nets and Bucks are tied 1-1 in the season series and the winner Tuesday would still need a victory in the final meeting, at New Jersey Mar. 30, to claim the playoff tie-breaker.

The Bucks won the first meeting, 104-102, at Milwaukee Jan. 9 on Luke Ridnour's score with half a second left. Jefferson had a dismal night -- scoring 13 points, shooting 3-of-15 and capping it off with a defensive lapse that allowed Bobby Simmons to hit a three-pointer to tie with nine seconds left, setting the scene for Ridnour's basket. The loss was doubly painful for the Nets, who lost forward Yi Jianlian to a broken right pinkie.

Jefferson had a game-high 27 points Feb. 3 but it didn't matter as the Nets rode Vince Carter's fifth career triple-double (15 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists) and 22 points by Brook Lopez to a 99-85 victory at New Jersey.

HORNETS 99, NETS 96: The Nets wasted a brilliant comeback from a 13-point, fourth quarter deficit with dismal execution in the final minute-and-a-half, paving the way for the Hornets' victory. The Nets led by four at 2:00 but then missed their last three shots, committed two costly turnovers and surrendered a big offensive rebound to the Hornets who capitalized. Devin Harris scored 26 points and passed for a season-high 14 assists while Vince Carter also collected 26 points in the defeat that ended a two-game winning streak.