Nets Reach Playoffs; Pacers Avoid Pistons

Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and the New Jersey Nets are going to the playoffs, while Reggie Miller, Jermaine O’Neal and the Indiana Pacers avoided a first-round matchup with the team they brawled with in mid-November.

The NBA season ended Wednesday night with a full slate of games, although only three of them had postseason implications.

With the eighth and final playoff berth in the East at stake, Carter shook off a leg injury and scored 24 of his 37 points in the second half to lead the Nets to a come-from-behind 102-93 victory over the Boston Celtics.

New Jersey (42-40) finished with the same record as Cleveland, which defeated Toronto 104-95, but earned the playoff berth by having the tiebreaker edge over the Cavaliers.

“Vince has carried us since he’s been here,” New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. “Vince, time after time after time, delivers.”

In the only other game of importance, the Pacers defeated the Chicago Bulls 85-83 to finish sixth in the conference. Had Indiana lost, it would have meant a first-round matchup with the Pistons.

Indiana will play Boston in the first round of the playoffs, while Detroit will face Philadelphia.

“We’ve got a chance. Obviously, we won’t be at full strength, but who cares?” said Reggie Miller, who played the final regular-season home game of his 18-year career.

Elsewhere, it was Miami 98, Orlando 93; Philadelphia 110, Atlanta 86; Charlotte 97, Detroit 86; New York 113, Washington 105; Dallas 108, Memphis 88; Minnesota 95, San Antonio 73; L.A. Clippers 86, New Orleans 75; Houston 106, Seattle 78; Portland 106, L.A. Lakers 103; Sacramento 132, Phoenix 107; and Golden State 106, Utah 89.

Nets 102, Celtics 93

At Boston, the Nets missed 10 of their first 11 shots and got an early scare when Carter hobbled off the court with 7:29 left in the first quarter. The Celtics opened their biggest lead, 49-30, on Paul Pierce’s 3-pointer 5:07 before intermission, but the Nets cut that to 58-47 at halftime, scored the first nine points of the third quarter, then had an 18-2 run to lead 79-66.

“This game sums up our whole season for us,” said Kidd, who spent the first month of the season on the injured list. “We were down but didn’t fold the tent.”

New Jersey will play Miami in the first round.

Cavaliers 104, Raptors 95

At Toronto, LeBron James had 27 points, 14 assists and 14 rebounds when he wasn’t focused on the out-of-town scoreboard to check on the Nets-Celtics game.

“When we first got the score Boston was up 17, then they were up 10, then 5, 4 and it just kept going down,” James said.

Pacers 85, Bulls 83

At Indianapolis, Jermaine O’Neal had 21 points and Anthony Johnson added 20, scoring the go-ahead basket and a clinching 3-pointer in the final minute.

“I want to thank you guys for opening your hearts to me each and every night that we played,” Miller told the crowd.

Miller had 12 points and shot just 3-of-13, each miss drawing groans from the 18,345 fans who turned out for a farewell.

Heat 98, Magic 93

At Orlando, Shaquille O’Neal and Dwyane Wade watched from the bench as Keyon Dooling scored 19 points to lead the Heat, who won their last three games to finish with an Eastern Conference-best 59-24 record.

76ers 110, Hawks 86

At Philadelphia, Allen Iverson scored all 16 of his points in the first quarter to put the finishing touches on his fourth scoring title.

Bobcats 97, Pistons 86

At Charlotte, Emeka Okafor had 16 points and 19 rebounds as Charlotte snapped Detroit’s 11-game winning streak.

Knicks 113, Wizards 105

At New York, Jamal Crawford made seven 3-pointers and scored 36 points as the Knicks avoided a 50-loss season.

Mavericks 108, Grizzlies 88

At Memphis, Josh Howard scored 27 points to help Dallas close the season with a nine-game victory streak.

Timberwolves 95, Spurs 73

At Minneapolis, Ndudi Ebi had a career-high 18 points and eight rebounds and Michael Olowokandi had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Clippers 86, Hornets 75

At New Orleans, Elton Brand had 18 points and 14 rebounds for Los Angeles, leaving the Hornets with the worst record in franchise history – 18-64.

Rockets 106, SuperSonics 78

At Houston, Tracy McGrady sat out with back spasms as Mike James scored 24 points to help the Rockets close the regular season their seventh straight win.

Trail Blazers 106, Lakers 103

At Portland, Kobe Bryant’s first season as a solo superstar ended with a six-game losing streak. He led the Lakers with 37 points.

Kings 132, Suns 107

At Sacramento, Bobby Jackson had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists in his first game since tearing ligaments in his left wrist four months ago.

Warriors 106, Jazz 89

At Oakland, Baron Davis had 23 points and nine assists to help Golden State take a season series from Utah for the first time in 11 years.