The Pacers are attempting to take a 3-1 series lead over the New Jersey Nets without small forward Peja Stojakovic.

He is out of the lineup because of an injured right knee.

Fred Jones slid into the starting lineup to replace him, as Stephen Jackson was shifted to small forward.

As the Nets head into Game 4, trailing 2-1, Vince Carter isn't going to begin straining.

"We're fortunate enough to have some other scorers in RJ (Richard Jefferson). We got a bench with Cliff [Robinson] who can score and then of course, JKidd can put up numbers at any given time. So I don't put the pressure on myself."

Anthony Johnson had a clear opinion of the scowling on the face of Vince Carter during Game 2.

"(Carter) was out there trying to play tough, which we all know he's not," Johnson said. "But at the same time, it was no major issue. ... They called an offensive foul on him (during Game 2), he was in my face chirping a little bit. But that doesn't bother me at all."

Peja Stojakovic missed Game 2 of Indiana's first-round playoff series against the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night because of pain and fluid on his right knee, the Associated Press is reporting.

"It got to the point where I wasn't able to handle the pain," Stojakovic said after the Pacers lost 90-75, evening the best-of-seven series. "The coach decided I should sit out this one and try to be ready for Thursday."

Stojakovic said that an MRI exam on the knee on Monday showed no structural damage, although the fluid limited his mobility.

Vince Carter's performance on Sunday has been criticized and head coach Lawrence Frank stood up for his player to the media.

"Watch the tape again," Frank said Monday. "Hey, when you're a primary scorer, there are going to be a couple shots that you're going to take and you live with. But he had so many great attacks. It didn't fall for him. Doesn't make him any less of a player, doesn't make him any less of a person. Look, this guy has helped turn the franchise around. We're going to be fine."

General manager Ed Stefanski is back from his European tour, where he had another look at Nets draftee Mile Ilic at the Adriatic Finals. There might be an unexpected snag in the 7-1 center's plans to get a buyout and make it over to the United States for summer league.

"There's a rumor that he's going to be invited for tryouts for the (Serbian) national team for the world championships," Stefanski said.

Otherwise, the GM liked what he saw, and reiterated that "if he gets a body, he has a chance to be an NBA player."

High flying Net Vince Carter bruised his right wrist and tailbone on a scary fall while scoring over Anthony Johnson with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter, but according to the New York Daily News, Carter should be available to play in Game 2.

"It's all sore right now," said Carter. "But come game time I will be ready to play. I know if I feel sore now it is going to be really sore (today). Regardless, I'm going to play."

"That fall took forever just to hit the floor," added Carter. "I've been there before. ... I was just trying to hold on for dear life."

Richard Hamilton, who scored 21 points, sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter, and although he came back in the game once, Hamilton ended the night on the bench.

X rays taken after the game were negative and the injury is not thought to be serious. Pistons coach Flip Saunders said that had the game been close, Hamilton could have come back.

Hamilton, the Pistons' leading scorer Sunday, is listed as day-to-day. The training staff will evaluate him at today's practice - the first of two off days before the Pistons and Bucks meet Wednesday night for Game 2.

The Nets are desperate to get rid of guard Jeff McInnis.  They left him off the playoff roster and will likely have to buy him out this summer.

"I stay out of it," Carter said of McInnis, who upset team officials with his lackluster rehab from knee surgery in January. "It can be a touchy subject. Their decision is their decision. He has done whatever he has been asked. Maybe I missed something. Maybe not. I know he was injured and maybe they thought he was overweight at one time. I don't know what the case is."

Vince Carter wants the ball when it matters most.

"Some guys can handle it, some guys can't," he said. "I feel that in those situations, I'll take the same shot as if it was the second or third quarter, just shoot in the same way. If you make it, you make it. You miss it, you miss it. But you have to hold your head up. Just stick with the decision you've made."