Nets, Pistons get Game 5 wins

Posted 7:12AM on Friday 3rd May 2002 ( 23 years ago )

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The greatest NBA season in New Jersey Nets history is still alive - all because they found a way to withstand everything Reggie Miller could conjure. The Nets survived a questionable game-tying 3-pointer by Miller at the end of regulation Thursday night to defeat the Indiana Pacers 120-109 night in a riveting Game 5 of their first-round series. Jason Kidd scored 20 of his 31 points - a career playoff high - in the fourth quarter and two overtimes for the Nets, who won their first playoff series in 18 years. ``This is one for the ages,'' Pacers coach Isiah Thomas said. ``I think people are going to talk about this one for a long, long time. ``There were a lot of great players, a lot of great plays. There was drama, there were ups and downs. It's what NBA basketball is all about. It really was a fantastic game.'' There were dozens of plays to remember, the most dramatic being the 35-foot turnaround 3-pointer that Miller banked in near the buzzer to make it 96-96. One TV replay showed that it barely beat the clock, while another showed the ball in his hands with the red light clearly on under the basket. ``I thought it was a little late also,'' Nets coach Byron Scott said. ``Referees are human and make mistakes. Fortunately, that didn't cost us.'' It didn't because Kidd showed all his MVP-type qualities in refusing to let the Nets lose. He eventually helped put the game away, igniting a 5-0 run at the start of the second overtime that the Pacers never overcame. ``I've seen that all season long,'' Scott said of Kidd, who played 33 of 34 minutes after halftime. ``He never pressed the issue and controlled the play. He showed tonight why he's the MVP of the league.'' Kenyon Martin added 29 points and Keith Van Horn had 27 before fouling out as the Nets advanced to a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal against the Charlotte Hornets, starting in New Jersey on Sunday. Detroit also advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinal, beating Toronto 85-82 in Game 5. The Pistons will play the winner of Friday's night's deciding Game 5 between Philadelphia and Boston. Seattle and the Spurs also will meet in a Game 5 at San Antonio on Friday. A Western Conference semifinal will open Saturday with Dallas at Sacramento. Miller had 31 points in almost single-handedly leading the Pacers over the top-seeded Nets. Ron Mercer added 20. But the 3-pointer at the end of regulation was Miller at his most riveting. Nets rookie Richard Jefferson had a chance to put eighth-seeded Indiana away when he got two free throws with five seconds to play and the Nets ahead 96-93. Jefferson missed both and Kevin Ollie got the ball upcourt quickly. He threw cross court to Miller, who turned under defensive pressure and banked in a bullet. ``That was an unbelievable shot,'' Thomas said. ``He's one of the greatest clutch players I've ever seen, if not the greatest. He's right up there with (Michael) Jordan. He pushes a button and just keeps going.'' Miller, however, could not produce an encore in the second overtime, missing all four of his shots, including three 3-pointers. ``In this area, people think I'm the Boogieman of the playground, some myth who makes big plays,'' Miller said. ``But I just love playing. I should have been more selfish down the stretch and took more shots. I put others in the position to make plays and that's why we lost.'' It marked only the second time since the Nets joined the NBA in 1976-77 that they have made it out of the first round. The only other time was in 1984 against Philadelphia. ``It was like a heavyweight fight, going back and forth,'' Kidd said. ``We just weren't ready to give up. Maybe we have a sense of destiny, like the stars are in line for us.'' Kidd nearly won the game for New Jersey at the end of the first overtime when his last second jumper went in and out. He took over the game in the second overtime, setting up a three-point play by Kerry Kittles and adding a jumper with 3:07 left to give the Nets a lead they never lost. New Jersey outscored Indiana 13-2 in the second overtime. ``He did it time and time again in this series,'' Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal said of Kidd. ``He was playing the Superman role.'' New Jersey used a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter to lead 90-81. Kidd hit a 20-footer with 1:05 to play to make it 94-91. After a timeout with 26.4 seconds to go, Miller came off a screen and got Van Horn up in the air beyond the 3-point line. Van Horn landed on Miller for a three-shot penalty while fouling out. Miller, who led the league with a 91 percent free throw average, made the first, missed the second and made the third. It looked gloomy for the Miller and the Pacers then, but there was plenty more to come. Pistons 85, Raptors 82 Jerry Stackhouse had only five points, but his first field goal with 1:43 left put Detroit ahead to stay as the Pistons won at home and eliminated the Raptors. The Pistons are in the second round for the first time since 1991, and Stackhouse advances for the first time in his seven-year career. The Raptors had a chance to become just the seventh team to overcome a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-five series. But they made only one basket in the final 2 1/2 minutes, and Chris Childs forced up a shot with seven seconds left on Toronto's final possession. Former Raptor Corliss Williamson scored a career playoff-high 23 points. Chucky Atkins had 14 points, Jon Barry scored 12 and Ben Wallace grabbed 17 rebounds. Dell Curry scored 14 of his 17 in the final quarter. Childs scored 16 and Keon Clark continued his strong play with 15.

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