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."

Jermaine O'Neal scored 37 points in Indiana's 107-95 Game 3 win after he was fined $15,000 by the NBA earlier in the day for publicly criticizing the officials after the Pacers' loss to New Jersey in Game 2.

"This is my 10th year," O'Neal said. "These are the same moves I made the previous four or five years that made me an All-Star. On the flops, they're holding onto me. They're not calling them on the other end."

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 will be a game-time decision on Thursday for Game 3 after sitting out Tuesday's game and Wednesday's practice with a sore right knee.

"It feels better because I didn't do anything (Wednesday)," Stojakovic said. "I'm hoping I'll be able to play. We'll see."

Reporters began asking Jermaine O'Neal about the possibility of playing for the Knicks next season following Tuesday's loss to New Jersey.

"The last time I checked, I have five years left on my deal," O'Neal said. "I don't really control where I'm going to play at. I deal with reality, and reality states I have five years left.

"I don't really sit back and think about stuff like that because the task at hand for us is already tough enough to deal with; that's winning playoff games. So I don't sit back and think about where I'm going to play."

1His name will likely continue to be mentioned throughout the summer, but the Pacers say they don't have any intention of trading their All-Star player.

"I hear a lot of talk about it because my brother lives here and he tells me how they say I'm going to play (with the Knicks) next year," O'Neal said. "I'm not a free agent. If I had to make a choice where I'm going to play next year it would be in Indiana because my contract says so."

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.

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."

The Pacers will be without point guard Jamaal Tinsley for at least the first two games of their series with the Nets, the Indianapolis Star is reporting.

"I don't want to say which game, but I hope I will be back this series," Tinsley said. "I have a lot of swelling on my arch. Putting too much pressure on it has limited my movement. I don't want to go out there and limit other guys who are healthy and take their minutes, because I'm not helping the team."

The Indiana Pacers have won five of the past six games, including Wednesday night's regular-season finale against the Orlando Magic, but Reggie Miller still isn't sold on his former team.

"I'm not huge on what Indiana's doing, even though everyone says they are rounding into playoff shape," Miller said in the Indianapolis Star. "They haven't played anyone, and in April no one plays, especially the teams with bad records, because they're just trying to figure out where they're going on vacation when the season's over."