Today in Nets history: Jason Kidd secures bounce-back win over Reggie Miller’s Pacers

The New Jersey Nets didn’t have an easy first-round matchup when they faced the Indiana Pacers back in the 2002 NBA Playoffs.

With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.

For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.

Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:

Even though the New Jersey Nets were the top-ranked team in the Eastern Conference in the 2002 NBA Playoffs, Jason Kidd and company did not get an easy draw in the Indiana Pacers.

Jermaine O’Neal scored 30 points in the first game of the series to jump out to a 1-0 lead. Brad Miller scored 18 points, Reggie Miller had 17 and Ron Artest finished with 12 in Indy’s 89-83 series-opening win (full box score).

But the Nets weren’t about to let things get away from them in Game 2 on April 22, 2002. Jason Kidd (20 points), Kenyon Martin (19), Keith Van Horn (17) and Aaron Williams (15) each finished in double-figures in New Jersey’s 95-79 win (full box score).

Kidd was one assist shy of a triple-double, grabbing 10 boards. Van Horn and Kerry Kittles each had three steals apiece. Martin and Todd MacCulloch both blocked a pair of shots.