Late Shot by Rogers Puts the Hurt on Bucks

While everybody else watched Rodney Rogers make the game-winning shot, George Karl swore he witnessed a mugging Thursday night at Milwaukee.

Rogers missed two free throws with five seconds left, but teammate Kenyon Martin outfought Anthony Mason for the rebound and tipped the ball to Rogers, whose 20-foot jumper gave New Jersey a 103-101 victory over Milwaukee and a 2-1 series lead in their Eastern Conference series.

Karl, the Bucks’ coach, was livid that Martin wasn’t whistled for a foul, particularly because Rogers was at the free-throw line because of a “touch foul” on Tim Thomas.

“It’s sickening to see how we lost the game because it was a foul,” Karl said. “Kenyon Martin just manhandles and throws [Mason]. It’s a foul. And here’s a comparison, Rodney Rogers gets fouled on a touch foul. And then there’s a wrestling foul. It’s incredible.”

Rogers tied his season high with 18 points thanks to the biggest shot of his career.

“I was surprised to get it,” Rogers said. “When I shot it, I knew it was going in. It felt really good. I felt bad after missing those two free throws. It happened so fast. He tipped it back.

“It was instant redemption.”

Gary Payton’s three-point shot at the buzzer hit the side of the rim.

The Nets got 26 points from Jason Kidd and 23 from Martin. Kidd scored 21 of his points in the first half.

Boston 101, Indiana 83 -- Amid a flurry of flagrant and technical fouls, the Celtics got 21 points from Paul Pierce, who led six Boston players in double figures, to take a 2-1 series lead over the Pacers at Boston.

Boston’s Mark Blount and Indiana’s Ron Artest were ejected in separate incidents, two Celtics were assessed flagrant fouls and the Pacers picked up five technicals.

Boston was in foul trouble throughout the third quarter but extended its four-point halftime lead to 75-58 going into the fourth.