Jason Kidd, who missed nine games with a bone bruise in his left knee, was activated Tuesday by the New Jersey Nets.
"We're getting a gauge for where he's at," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "He's going to have to play through a great deal of pain. We need a barometer for where he's at as opposed to being potentially surprised."
Kidd was not in the starting lineup against the Milwaukee Bucks. He last played March 18 in an 89-71 loss to the Detroit Pistons, scoring 10 points in 39 minutes. Kidd was put on the injured list the next day and did not practice until March 30.
The Nets, who clinched their third straight Atlantic Division title last week, have five games left after Tuesday night to evaluate Kidd's knee.
"It gives you a little bit more information to deal with," Frank said.
Kidd is averaging 16.0 points, a league-high 9.5 assists and 6.7 rebounds. The 31-year-old has a league-best nine triple-doubles this season and 59 in his career -- tied with Larry Bird for fourth-most in NBA history.
Bucks 103, Nets 98
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Milwaukee Bucks spoiled the long-awaited return of All-Stars Jason Kidd and Kenyon Martin, rallying from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat New Jersey.
Michael Redd and Desmond Mason led a late 10-0 spurt that moved Milwaukee closer to gaining home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The Bucks increased their lead over fifth-place Miami to 1 1/2 games.
Damon Jones had 23 points and 11 assists, Redd added 21 points and Mason 18 in the Bucks' third straight win. Keith Van Horn had 13, including two big free throws with 17 seconds to play to push the lead to five points.
Rodney Rogers had a season-high 26 points and Richard Jefferson 25 for the Nets.
Pistons 102, Magic 86
Rasheed Wallace had 17 points and 11 rebounds to help the Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic 102-86 for their 11th straight loss.
The Pistons won for the 13th time in 15 games but also had a key loss. Starting point guard Chauncey Billups did not return after twisting his left ankle when he stepped on Tyronn Lue's foot in the third quarter.
"That's what you fear at this time of the year," Pistons coach Larry Brown said. "But there's no answer -- guys can get hurt just as easily in practice."
Detroit also got 12 points from Ben Wallace and Tayshaun Prince and 11 from Richard Hamilton. No starter played more than 31 minutes.
"We want to win these games and play well to finish up on a good note," Prince said. "We know where we will be, but we want to get prepared for the playoffs."
Lue led the Magic with 21 points, and Keith Bogans added 15 and nine rebounds.
Raptors 87, Cavaliers 86
In Cleveland, Jalen Rose made a 3-pointer in the final second as Toronto ended a seven-game losing streak and maybe Cleveland's playoff chances.
Rose's 3-pointer with six-tenths of a second remaining capped a final possession that kept Toronto's playoff pulse beating for at least another game.
A loss would have eliminated the Raptors from the postseason.
The Cavs' fifth straight loss dropped them three games behind idle Boston for the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Toronto is four back of the Celtics.
Vince Carter scored 32 points, Rose added 15 and Donyell Marshall had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Toronto. LeBron James scored 21 points, Carlos Boozer had 18 and Jeff McInnis added 16 points and 10 assists in his first game back from a shoulder injury.
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