EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Anthony Johnson was nothing more than Jason Kidd's backup when he played for New Jersey. Yesterday he backed up his new reputation — as one of the Indiana Pacers' most dependable players.

Johnson made two free throws with 0.9 seconds left and played tough defense on Kidd, and the Pacers beat the Nets, 90-88, to take Game 1 of their Eastern Conference first-round series.

"Anthony Johnson is a guy you can count on," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "There are guys on your roster you know are going to be ready to play and take care of themselves and be professional, knowledgeable, they like the game. He is one of those guys who fits that description."

Jermaine O'Neal scored 11 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter for the sixth-seeded Pacers, who became the first road team to win a game in this postseason. Game 2 is tomorrow at Continental Airlines Arena.

Stephen Jackson scored 18 points and reserve Fred Jones added 15 for the Pacers, who forced Vince Carter and Kidd, two of New Jersey's "Big Three," into horrible shooting nights.

Johnson, Kidd's understudy in New Jersey when the Nets made consecutive NBA Finals appearances in 2002-03, finished with 12 points and six assists.

"Everyone wants to label guys, label me as a backup point guard, a guy that can't get it done," Johnson said. "Those are the opportunities where you have to step up and make it happen."

Carter had 31 points and 13 rebounds, but shot 12 of 33 from the field. Kidd was only 2 of 11 for five points for the Nets, the Atlantic Division champions.

"I had a double negative tonight," Carter said. "I couldn't hit a jump shot or make a layup."

Nenad Krstic scored 22 points and Richard Jefferson added 19 for the Nets, who fell to 3-12 in first-round Game 1s.

Carter's follow dunk tied the game at 88 with 32 seconds left, and the Pacers worked the clock down before Austin Croshere took a jumper from the corner that was short.

The ball came back to him and he got it out to Johnson, who drove into the lane and was fouled while taking a shot that went in and out.

The foul was called on Krstic, but Johnson thought it was on Kidd. Johnson said it was a foul — "No ifs, ands or buts" — but the Nets weren't so sure.

"Unfortunately we couldn't come up with the rebound and you like for players to decide the game, but you have to give Anthony credit for making the two free throws," Nets coach Lawrence Frank said. "I haven't seen a replay yet, but the foul on Krstic seemed like a really hard call."

After he sank both free throws, Jefferson's jumper from the corner was short.Pistons 92, Bucks 74

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Exactly 10 months after losing Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Rasheed Wallace and the Detroit Pistons opened these playoffs like they're itching to get right back.

"This is what we've been looking forward to all year," Wallace said.

Wallace scored 17 of his 22 points in the first half and Richard Hamilton had 21 to lead Detroit over Milwaukee in Game 1 of their first-round series.

The top-seeded Pistons were so balanced offensively that they started the final quarter with four scorers in double figures, and were so tough at the other end that Milwaukee didn't have one.

"One of the strengths of Detroit's team is it's hard to focus on one guy," Bucks coach Terry Stotts said.

Milwaukee star Michael Redd was held to 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting after averaging 25.4 points during the regular season.

"Whenever I got the ball, I had two or three guys around me," Redd said.

Reserve Charlie Bell led the Bucks with 13 points.

"We wanted to win big right away," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said after coaching the Pistons for the first time in the postseason. "We didn't let things happen, we tried to make too many spectacular plays."

Milwaukee scored the first eight points — six on Bell's 3-pointers — of the final quarter to pull within four, but couldn't stop four Pistons from combining for an 11-0 run to give Detroit a 79-64 lead.

MAVERICKS 103, GRIZZLIES 93

DALLAS — Dirk Nowitzki had all week to think back on the terrible way Dallas started last year's playoffs. Minutes into this postseason, it was clear he wasn't going to let that happen again.

Nowitzki scored 19 points during a surge that produced 60 by halftime against the NBA's stingiest defense, then the Mavericks got key baskets from a variety of players the rest of the way to beat Memphis in the opener of their first-round series.

"We wanted to come out a lot more aggressive and we did," Nowitzki said. "It's good to get the first one out of the way, even though it wasn't a great game."

A 1-0 lead might not seem like much for a team that won 60 regular-season games, but it's a big relief for Dallas after starting last year's playoffs with two home losses. Although the Mavs recovered to beat the Houston Rockets in seven games, they don't want to work that hard with the San Antonio Spurs likely looming in the second round.

"We learned from last year," Nowitzki said.

The MVP candidate opened this game with a strong drive to the basket, drawing a foul. He made his first jumper soon after and had 13 points after one quarter.

Nowitzki finished with 31 points and 11 rebounds.