There were no obscene chants. No bibs, no signs, no demands he do the anatomically impossible. Cheers replaced jeers. And Vince Carter responded.

After a dismal 13-of-43 combo showing for Games 1 and 2 in Toronto, Carter heard and felt only the positive from the home side. And Carter rewarded the love with a 37-point explosion after scoring 35 in his first two games. But Carter insisted his destruction of the Raptors had nothing to do with the building.

“My mentality, because I think I attacked the basket more. I was a little more aggressive, and I continued to play,” said Carter who was superb. He shot 15-of-23 and was 9-of-10 before halftime. He led the Nets to a massive 56-24 edge on points in the paint.

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With his 19-assist, 16-rebound, 16-point triple double, Jason Kidd became only the third player in history to have 15 in all three categories in a playoff game. Lafayette “Fat” Lever (19 points, 16 rebounds, 18 assists in 1985) and Wilt Chamberlain (16 points, 30 rebounds, 19 assists in 1967) were the others. . . . Kidd’s 14 first-half assists were one shy of the NBA all-time playoff record held by Magic Johnson and Glen “Doc” Rivers. Also, Kidd’s 19 assists bettered his previous Nets record of 15.

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Guard Eddie House, out with a partially torn hip muscle, said he was optimistic he could be back for the second round of the playoffs, if the Nets can advance.