Kidd was 1-for-14 in shooting over the previous two games but went 8-fo-12 to notch a season-high 21 points, while Jason Terry and Shawn Marion provided 22 points each from the bench.
The club made a similar turnaround, going from five straight losses by at least 10 points each - their worst such stretch since their woeful days in the mid-1990s - to a convincing win over the two-time defending champions.
In Denver, Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points to help Denver down Oklahoma City, hours after New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov announced he would no longer pursue the All-Star forward.
Chauncey Billups and Nene each added 16 points for the Nuggets, who grabbed the lead for good early in the fourth quarter of a game that was close all the way.
After months of talks aimed at bringing Anthony from Denver to New Jersey, the Nets' new owner announced that his team was ending the drawn-out trade talks.
In San Antonio, the hosts rallied from an 11-point halftime deficit to beat Toronto and record their seventh straight victory.
DeJuan Blair had 22 points and 11 rebounds while Manu Ginobili added 23 points for the Spurs, who improved their NBA-best record to 36-6, their best ever after 42 games.
DeMar DeRozan scored 28 points for the Raptors, who lost their fifth straight.
The Spurs surged into the lead midway through the third quarter after a 15-4 run to start the second half had tied the game.
In Boston, Ray Allen hit a jump shot with 25 seconds left to give Boston its first lead of the second half as the Celtics beat Detroit.
Paul Pierce scored 22 points for the Celtics, who won their fourth straight.
Rodney Stuckey scored 15 points for the Pistons, who led by eight with 8 minutes left but did not score over the game's last 2:43.
In New Orleans, Marcus Thornton broke up an inbounds pass with 14 seconds left in overtime and then finished a fast break with a reverse layup, giving New Orleans a thrilling home win over Memphis, extending its winning streak to six.
Chris Paul had 20 points and 12 assists, and corralled the critical loose ball that was tipped by both Thornton and Trevor Ariza. Paul then raced up court and passed to Emeka Okafor, who bounced a pass to Thornton under the hoop.
Rudy Gay, who had 22 points, had one last shot to win it for Memphis, but his jumper near the top of the key bounced off the back rim.
In Orlando, Jason Richardson converted a 4-point play with 17 seconds left as Orlando pipped Philadelphia in overtime.
Dwight Howard scored 18 points before fouling out late in regulation for the Magic, who survived another slow start and spotty defense with some big late baskets.
Lou Williams led Philadelphia with 19 points.
In Houston, the hosts handed New York its fourth straight loss.
Kevin Martin scored 21 points and Chuck Hayes grabbed 12 rebounds for the Rockets, who rode a hot shooting start to their sixth straight home win over the Knicks.
Amare Stoudemire scored 25, but also gave away five turnovers for New York, who shot 42 percent (35 of 83), scored only 39 points after halftime and were held almost 19 points under their league-leading scoring average (107.5 per game).
In Newark, New Jersey, hours after owner Mikhail Prokhorov ended their long, drawn-out pursuit of Carmelo Anthony, New Jersey snapped a six-game losing skid by beating Utah.
Brook Lopez scored 11 of his 20 points in a big third quarter and the Nets seemed to relax with the trade talk over.
New Jersey had a season-best seven players in double figures.
Al Jefferson had 21 points and eight rebounds for Utah.
In Oakland, Monta Ellis made a jumper with less than a second remaining to give Golden State victory over Indiana.
Ellis scored 36 points for the Warriors, who matched their season high with their third straight victory. David Lee and Dorell Wright each added 21 points as Golden State beat the Pacers at home for the fifth straight time.
Danny Granger had 32 points and 13 rebounds for the Pacers, who have lost 11 of the past 12 road games.
In Sacramento, Nicolas Batum scored a season-high 24 points and LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 to lead Portland to an overtime victory against Sacramento.
The Blazers have won eight in a row against the Kings.
Beno Udrih scored 20 for the Kings, who and just returned home from a 1-5 road trip.
In Cleveland, Phoenix made it four straight wins by downing hapless Cleveland.
Grant Hill scored 27 points and Steve Nash had 15 points and 15 assists for the Suns.
Cleveland trimmed a 17-point deficit in the second half to three but couldn't get closer and lost its 14th straight game.
Antawn Jamison scored 23 and J.J. Hickson had 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Cavaliers were at least more competitive than during a just completed five-game road trip, when they lost by an average of 26.2 points.
In Milwaukee, Washington's woeful road record was extended to 0-20 with a defeat by Milwaukee.
Keyon Dooling scored a season-high 23 points and Corey Maggette added 21 for the Bucks, who fought back from an early 12-point deficit despite missing injured starters Brandon Jennings, Carlos Delfino, and John Salmons.
Milwaukee, which came in as the NBA's worst shooting team went 35 of 73 to finish at 48 percent from the field.
In Los Angeles, Blake Griffin had 29 points and eight rebounds, ending his streak of double-doubles at 27 games, as Los Angeles overcame Minnesota.
The Timberwolves' Kevin Love had 26 points and 11 rebounds for his NBA-leading 29th straight double-double.
The two players with the most double-doubles in the league had their streaks in jeopardy until the fourth quarter, when Love reached double figures in rebounds after having none in the first half. Griffin left the game two shy with 3:54 to play and didn't look pleased about it.
The Clippers' DeAndre Jordan actually notched a double-double by the third quarter and finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds.
