EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - With Richard Jefferson out with a sprained ankle and Vince Carter battling a flu-bug, Jason Kidd put on a one-man show for the New Jersey Nets.

Kidd scored a season-high 25 points and added 11 assists and eight rebounds to lead the Nets to a 100-87 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night.

"I didn't know if Vince was going or not so my mindset was to come out and grab control of the game," Kidd said. "My plan didn't change when I found out Vince was going. I wanted to help him out on the offensive end because we've relied on him so much to carry us. I made some early shots and my teammates found me."

Kidd hit his first four shots and six-of his first seven to become the first Nets player other than Carter to lead the team in scoring this season. The 33-year old scored 11 straight points in a 21-3 first-quarter spurt that gave New Jersey the lead for good.

"Jason understands the game. He understands with R.J. out, he has to step it up," Carter said. "From the jump ball it was his show. He was man possessed tonight. It was great to see."

Carter, who battled flu-like symptoms all day and was a game-time decision to start, finished with 15 points, none in the fourth quarter. Nenad Krstic added 22 points.

"Just having Vince on the floor was a huge plus," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "He could have very easily sat out. He obviously wasn't 100 percent but he put the uniform on and gave us what he had."

Mo Williams had a season-high 26 points for Milwaukee, which was playing on consecutive nights. Michael Redd added 25 points for the Bucks, who were without leading rebounder Charlie Villanueva. He hurt an elbow on Tuesday night and was sent back home for further evaluation.

"It was good to see Mo make some shots," Bucks coach Terry Stotts said. "We had some good looks at the end of the fourth quarter to make it interesting. It's a game that you are disappointed that you don't come away with a win."

The game was billed as a showdown of the NBA's top two scorers, Redd (32.1) and Carter (31.2).

It was Kidd who stole the show in nearly picking up his 78th career triple-double, which would have tied him third in NBA history with Wilt Chamberlain.

"He's awesome, there is nothing you can do about it," said Bucks forward Ruben Patterson, who added 15 points. "He was hitting every shot he shot up. You really can't say anything, a guy on like that, there's nothing you can do."

Kidd sparked the Nets' first-quarter run, during which New Jersey scored points on 10 straight possessions. He hit two layups, two free throws, a 3-pointer and jumper in building a 24-11 lead.

New Jersey increased the margin to 41-27 with a 10-2 run to open the second quarter. At the center of the scoring again was Kidd, who hit another 3-pointer and picked up another bucket on a drive.

Milwaukee never completely went away, and pulled to within six on two occasions in the third quarter ¡ª the last time at 66-60 on a three-point play by Williams. But Antoine Wright converted a three-point play and Milwaukee never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.