Brilliant Carter leads Nets to series-tying win over Pacers
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Inspired by a rejuvenated Vince
Carter, the New Jersey Nets thrashed the Indiana Pacers 90-75
in Game Two of their Eastern Conference quarter-final series on
Tuesday.
The guard’s 33-point haul enabled the Nets, who also had a
valuable 21-point contribution from Richard Jefferson, to even
up the best-of-seven series at 1-1 before the teams head off to
Indianapolis for Game Three on Thursday.
In the day’s other games, Gilbert Arenas scored 30 points
to help the Washington Wizards overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers
89-84 to level their Eastern Conference series at 1-1.
The defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs also won,
edging the Sacramento Kings 128-119 in overtime to take a 2-0
lead in their Western Conference quarter-final.
After struggling through a miserable shooting performance
in a Game One loss on Sunday, Carter responded with a more
typical effort, adding five rebounds and five assists to a
solid night’s work to help the Nets snap a seven-game playoff
losing streak.
Nenad Krstic contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds to the
New Jersey cause while Jason Kidd chipped in with just six
points, but added 11 boards and 13 assists.
As the game began, Violet Palmer was the focus of attention
when she became the first woman in NBA history to officiate a
post-season contest, but Carter wasted little time grabbing
back the spotlight by sinking his first five shots.
On Sunday, he put up a miserable 12-for-33 shooting
performance in his team’s 90-88 loss
When the Pacers rallied in the final quarter, trimming the
Nets advantage to just eight points with three minutes to play,
Carter took charge again, bagging five points to put the
contest out of reach.
“You guys know how special Vince Carter is,” Nets coach
Lawrence Frank told reporters. “He is a special, special guy.
“He has helped turn around this franchise, we have
unbelievable trust in him and he delivers time and time again.”
Anthony Johnson, who nailed two clutch free throws to earn
Indiana victory in Game One, led the Pacers with 17 points and
Fred Jones added 13.
The Pacers all-star forward Jermaine O’ Neal ran into early
foul trouble, contributing just 12 points on 3-of-12 shooting
while Stephen Jackson chipped in with 10.
Indiana was also without all-star Peja Stojakovic, who
missed the game with a sore right knee.
“I think tonight we just wanted to be aggressive,” Carter
told reporters. “Mentally just be prepared. I missed nine
lay-ups last time, it was just a fluke night.”
ALL SQUARE
In Cleveland, Arenas scored the points and Caron Butler
hounded LeBron James to distraction as the Wizards battled to a
five-point victory that sends the teams to Washington all
square after two games.
During the regular season, Arenas, Butler and Antawn
Jamison formed the NBA’s most productive attack, combining for
an average of over 67 points a game.
The trio continue to shoulder the burden on Tuesday, with
Butler and Jamison each adding 21 to the victory.
Butler’s biggest contribution, however, may have been
keeping James in check after the Cavaliers all-star registered
a triple-double in his first post-season appearance on
Saturday.
James had a team-high 26 points and 10 rebounds in the
loss, but the most glaring statistic was his 10 turnovers —
just one short of the NBA record.
In San Antonio, Brent Barry drained a game-tying
three-pointer with four seconds to play in regulation and Manu
Ginobili scored eight points in overtime to help the Spurs
outlast the Kings.
The best-of-seven series now moves to Sacramento for Games
Three and Four on Friday and Sunday with the Kings hoping to
avoid a sweep.
Ginobili finished the night with a game-high 32 points to
go along with nine assists.
Barry and Tony Parker both chipped in with 22 while Tim
Duncan made contributions at both ends of the court helping out
with 14 points and 13 rebounds.