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Brilliant Carter leads Nets to series-tying win over Pacers

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 April 2006, 01:46 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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