Nets pound Pacers to ascend in East standings

Richard Jefferson totaled 14 points and six assists for New Jersey, which won its second straight to leap a half-game past Orlando and move into the seventh position in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Magic lost in double- overtime at Boston on Wednesday.

Lawrence Frank picked up his 149th win (149-126) with the Nets, tying Byron Scott for the franchise record.

Nets guard Eddie House took a nasty spill with 2:10 left in the second quarter after being fouled hard by David Harrison. House left the game favoring his left hip and was diagnosed for a possible concussion.

"Every game is important, and we took care of business," Nets guard Jason Kidd said. "From the start to the end, we took care of the game in sense of executing. Everybody touched the ball and we got a win. That’s all that matters."

Shawne Williams had 19 points for the Pacers, who were without forward Jermaine O’Neal due to sprains in his left knee and ankle. Mike Dunleavy Jr. contributed 14 points and Troy Murphy, starting in place for O’Neal, tallied 13 points and 14 boards for Indiana, which is tied with New York, 1 1/2 games behind Orlando for the final playoff spot in the conference.

"I didn’t like the way we played," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "I know we needed to be a lot better in a lot of areas. They were missing a lot of long rebounds. Our pursuit of the ball has to be better."

Dunleavy’s slam had the Pacers within 11-9 early, but the Nets responded with an 11-2 spurt, ended by a Boone layup. It was 32-21 after 12 minutes.

The Nets continued to surge in the second quarter, building the lead to 45-27 following a technical free throw from Kidd. A House four-point play moved the margin to 51-29 with 3:31 left in the half, and New Jersey led 60-43 at the half.

Kidd’s three-pointer opened the third quarter and the rout continued, with a 91-66 spread going into the fourth. The Pacers got within 17 points at 104-87 with 4:40 left, but it was too little too late.

Game Notes

Indiana’s Darrell Armstrong sustained a bloody nose after he was inadvertently hit by an elbow from New Jersey’s Marcus Williams in the fourth quarter...Vince Carter had 13 points, while Kidd ended with 12 points, eight boards and six assists...Jamaal Tinsley had 10 points and nine assists for Indiana...The Nets are 3-0 this season against the Pacers and haven’t swept them since the 1982-83 season. The teams meet again April 15 at Indiana...Marcus Williams had a career-high 11 assists.