Harris, who definitely was up for playing his former team, and Vince Carter combined for 75 points and made sure the Nets didn?t give Kidd what he wanted this time. He got the trade he requested in February, but didn?t get the win in his first game back here Friday.

The popular opinion is the Nets got the better of the deal because Harris is 10 years younger and continues to get better. Friday?s game didn?t hurt that opinion as Harris scored a game-high 41 points to go with 13 assists and badly outplayed Kidd, who finished with 17 and seven assists.

"There was a little something extra in the tank," Harris said after the Nets snapped a three-game home losing streak before a less than half-filled Izod Center. "I think anybody would be lying if they didn?t want to play well against their old team."

There was something extra in all the Nets? tanks, but it started with Harris and Carter.

As much as everyone tried to downplay the importance of this game it was big for the Nets (13-12). Harris was clapping and pumping his fists most of the night. And late in the fourth, after a Carter three made it a 23-point game, the Nets? dynamic backcourt did a leaping chest bump at midcourt.

"More than anything we needed a win," said Harris. "I know you?re going to look at me [funny], but it didn?t matter who we played. There was extra emotion when we looked at the jersey, but we needed a home win more than anything to get back on track."

Harris was 14-of-25 from the field. Carter scored 34 and grabbed 10 rebounds. He was 11-of-18 and 4-of-6 on threes. The Nets shot 14-of-26 (53.8 percent) from downtown.

"We knew both point guards were going to come to play tonight," Carter said. "It was a great game to be a part of."

Kidd had a great relationship with Carter. But after Carter signed his $66 million contract in 2007, Kidd felt he deserved an extension. When he didn?t get one and Carter didn?t live up to his deal due to an ankle injury, Kidd asked out.

When Kidd was introduced he was given a 25-second standing ovation. He said as he stood out there he thought of his first game as a Net when only 8,790 fans were here.

The Nets announced 9,889 people were here Friday.

"It was like the first time I was in New Jersey," Kidd said. "That?s what the crowd looked like, about 3,000 people. That was the first thought and all the good and bad times we had."

Last season, Kidd?s unhappiness produced a black cloud that hung over the Nets until the eight-player, two draft-pick trade bringing Harris to New Jersey was finalized Feb. 19. The Nets have no regrets.

They feel they made a great trade. So do the fans. When Kidd was asked if he heard the chant he made a joke about his owner being on Dancing with the Stars.

"Were they talking about Cube?s dancing?" Kidd said. "Were they talking about his dancing?"

Harris acted as if he didn?t hear it, but wore a big smile when he was asked the question.

"We got the energy we so desperately needed," Harris said. "With a game like this there?s going to be added emotion no matter what. His first game back, with the crowd and whatnot, me leaving the team, there?s going to be extra emotion. We used it to our advantage."

E-mail: iannazzone@northjersey.com