EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., April 23 (UPI) -- Two free throws by Anthony Johnson with less than a second left Sunday gave Indiana a 90-88 victory over New Jersey.
It was the opener of their best-of-seven Eastern Conference quarterfinal series.
Johnson, a former Net, had 12 points and six assists.
Stephen Jackson had 18 points and eight rebounds; Jermaine O'Neal had 15 points, three rebounds and two assists; Fred Jones had 15 points, five rebounds and four assists; and Peja Stojakovic added 12 points and five rebounds for the Pacers, who -- dating back to the end of the regular season -- have won six of their last seven games.
Vince Carter, who was only 12-of-33 from the floor, had 31 points and added 13 rebounds; Nenad Krstic had 22 points, six rebounds and three assists; and Richard Jefferson had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists for the Nets, who sank to 3-12 overall in playoff openers.
