Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - In a case of one team trying to give a game away and another being too inept to take it, the Milwaukee Bucks captured Game 3 of their best-of-seven series with the New Jersey Nets 119-114 in overtime.

Milwaukee squandered a 14-point lead over the final 6 1/2 minutes of regulation, but the Nets failed to take advantage of the host's largesse. New Jersey missed nine free throws down the stretch, which basically sealed its fate.

"If I make the free throws, the game doesn't go into overtime," said Kenyon Martin, who led the Nets with 30 points but was 0-for-3 from the line in the game's waning moments.

The Nets began the game by converting their first 15 from the line, but in the latter stages of the game, they were unable to convert. Milwaukee's Sam Cassell drilled a trey midway through the fourth quarter to give the Bucks a 99-85 lead, but Martin and Richard Jefferson dragged the Nets back into the game. As hot as both players were from the field, they were unable to convert from the free throw line.

Martin and Jefferson missed a combined 7-of-11 from the foul line down the stretch.

Milwaukee's offense was firing on all cylinders for three-plus quarters, but it got very sketchy after that.

"Then we started getting goofy. The offense the last 10 possessions of the fourth quarter had to be ugly to watch because it wasn't very good," Milwaukee coach George Karl said. "New Jersey got hyped and we didn't react well to it."

Game 5 will be Tuesday night at Continental Airlines Arena.

SIXERS STUNG AT NEW HIVE

The New Orleans Hornets looked like a team that was poised for a meek, first-round exit. Baron Davis was sidelined to help put the Hornets in a two-game hole, and Jamal Mashburn dislocated a finger in Game 2, leaving him on the sidelines for an indefinite period of time.

Davis and company came to life in Game 3, as the Hornets posted an impressive 99-85 victory. Davis scored 28 points and handed out eight assists, while Jamaal Magloire added 18 points and nine rebounds to the win. PJ Brown chipped in with 17 points and 12 rebounds to the victory.

"My mode was to attack and get my teammates into attack mode," Davis said. "Early on I was looking to get everybody touches and open shots and told everybody, 'When you get the ball, shoot it. We need everybody to score tonight.' And everybody did a good job of taking big shots and knocking down big shots."

Jerome Moiso gave the Hornets huge energy off the bench. Moiso scored 10 points, grabbed seven rebounds and swatted a shot over 16 fourth-quarter minutes of work.

New Orleans coach Paul Silas knows that Davis is playing through pain.

"I'm sure he feels it a little bit ... but he wanted to play because this was a do-or-die game for us and certainly he had to lead the charge," Silas said.

Davis' effort notwithstanding, the Hornets did the job inside. New Orleans outrebounded Philadelphia 51-33 including a 21-6 edge on the offensive glass.

"You can talk about the Xs and Os all you want. Tonight they just wanted it more than us," Iverson said. "They beat us to loose balls and got 21 offensive rebounds and that's unheard of."

What appeared to be a cakewalk series is now shaping up like a dogfight.

"This is a series now," Philadelphia coach Larry Brown said. "The crowd was phenomenal; their effort was great. [Hornets coach Paul Silas] had them ready to play. I didn't have our guys ready to play. We didn't play well as a team."

Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night in New Orleans. Mashburn is expected to miss once again, but he has not ruled out a return to action for Game 5 in Philly on Wednesday night.

NOT SO FAST

The Sacramento Kings appeared to be on their way to sweep of their first-round series with the Utah Jazz. Chris Webber returned from a lower back injury, but the Jazz affirmed that they would not go quietly.

Utah got itself back in the series with a 107-104 victory in Game 3. Greg Ostertag scored 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked five shots in the victory. Karl Malone finished with 20 points and 11 boards, while John Stockton and Calbert Cheaney added 15 points apiece.

"It was a big game, but it's a series and you've got to win four," said Ostertag.

Webber finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Mike Bibby added 23 points for Sacramento. Peja Stojakovic added 19 points for the Kings, who were whistled for 34 fouls. Utah took full advantage by sinking 16 of its final 17 foul shots. final 17 foul shots.

The Jazz were called for just 21 fouls.

"The refs need to see both sides of the game. They can play physical, but we can't play physical," said Kings guard Bobby Jackson. "It's ridiculous. I'd rather have high school refs than NBA refs."

Malone was clearly vexed by the Kings' whining.

"We have to allow ourselves to play like that. Within the rules, but play physical," Malone said. "That's what playoff basketball is all about. No excuses."

Stockton and the rest of the Jazz are taking a veteran approach to the remainder of the series.

"We've got to make it real simple. We are playing one game," Stockton said. "We just had to win this one game. We knew it could get out of hand if we go down 0-3."

The Jazz have not been swept since losing to Golden State in the opening round of the 1989 playoffs.

Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday night at ARCO Arena.

CELTICS PUSH PACERS TO THE BRINK

Paul Pierce talked trash, then proceeded to back it up. Pierce scored 21 of his 37 points in the third quarter of the Boston Celtics' 102-92 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday.

With the win, the Celtics lead the best-of-seven series 3-1. The series shifts venues to Conseco Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.

"We don't want to prolong the series," Pierce said. "We don't want to give them any breathing room."

Pierce's 32 points in the second half set a Celtic postseason record for one half. The old mark of 30 was set by John Havlicek on April 1, 1973 and matched by Larry Bird on April 30, 1985.

"In the first half I was really passive, trying to get others involved," Pierce said. "Then I hit two or three in a row and I kind of fed off the crowd. The adrenaline got going."

The Celtics overcame 18 turnovers which led to 27 Indiana points. The Pacers threw the kitchen sink at Pierce, but were unable to slow him down. Indiana tried using a taller player jumping at him on long shots and double-teamed him in the post.

"We couldn't get him under control," Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said. "He's a shotmaker and he made shots. I don't think [Ron] Artest could have been any closer to him."

Boston was also able to get key stops when needed.

"He [Pierce] had the ability to take over because we started getting defensive stops," Boston coach Jim O'Brien said. "If you don't and you walk the ball up, then they have three people on Paul."

CHAMPS PULL EVEN

Trailing 2-1 in their opening-round series with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Los Angeles Lakers were under tremendous pressure. It's under just such circumstances that star players step up, and Shaquille O'Neal did just that in Game 4.

O'Neal scored 34 points, grabbed 23 rebounds and handed out six assists to the victory. The Lakers outscored the Timberwolves 22-11 in the game's last seven minutes.

"I told the guys before the game, get me the ball and move out of the way," O'Neal said. "I've just got to have the ball in a position where I can do something. As soon as I'm open, I would like to have it."

O'Neal knew this was a huge game for the Lakers.

"This was a game that we had to have," O'Neal said. "We did what we're supposed to do."

Kobe Bryant scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter of LA's win.

Minnesota's Kevin Garnett continued his torrid pace with 28 points and 18 rebounds. Troy Hudson finished with 28 points in the losing effort.

"Shaq was extremely aggressive -- he had by far his best game of the whole series," Timberwolves coach Flip Saunders said.

MAGIC TAKE CONTROL

Tracy McGrady asked his teammates for help, and over the last two games, they have responded.

McGrady finished with 27 points and nine assists, while Drew Gooden added 20 points and 13 rebounds, as the Magic posted a 100-92 victory over the top-seeded Detroit Pistons. Orlando now leads the best of seven series 3-1.

Orlando has not made it out of the first round since 1996 -- when it swept Detroit. McGrady has exited in the first round three straight times, the first with Toronto and then two more after coming to the Magic.

"Our guys are just keeping their composure, going out here focused and playing with a great deal of confidence -- and that what we're going to need to close out this series," said McGrady. "We can't get too comfortable right now. We've still got another game to play."

Detroit owned the NBA's best defense during the regular season, but the Magic shot 50 percent from the field.

"We've got to respond at home and we've got to get another opportunity to come back here," Detroit coach Rick Carlisle said. "[The Magic] did what they set out to do and defended their home court, and we're going to have to do that on Wednesday."

Chauncey Billups led the Pistons with 25 points, while Ben Wallace added 12 points, 24 rebounds and seven steals. Clifford Robinson added 14 points.

Detroit has been down 2-1 in a best-of-seven series nine times and has rallied to win the series twice.

NO SWEEP DREAMS FOR MAVS

The Portland Trail Blazers had lost 10 straight postseason games, including six straight under coach Maurice Cheeks. They were injured and on the ropes, down 3-1 in their best of seven series to the Dallas Mavericks, and without Scottie Pippen (knee). It was a recipe for a sweep and Dallas was probably already looking forward to the second round.

Portland had other plans.

Zach Randolph scored 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, while Damon Stoudamire added 17 points and 11 assists, as the Blazers whacked the Mavericks 99-78 in Game 4.

"You have no idea how important it is to get that victory,'' Cheeks said. "What went right? We made shots and they didn't make shots."

Dirk Nowitzki scored 26 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Nick Van Exel added 18 points and seven assists. Michael Finley played through a case of the flu and finished with seven points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field. Steve Nash did not score and shot 0-for-4 from the floor.

By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, the Mavs emptied their bench.

"Third period, I don't know what to tell you. I was very disappointed with our performance,'' Mavs coach Don Nelson said. "We just didn't have much life out there for whatever reason. We were outhustled and outplayed and outeverythinged in the third quarter.

"In the fourth quarter I decided that we should probably wait for another day."

That day will be Game 5 at AmericanAirlines Center on Wednesday night.

SUNS TIE THINGS UP

The San Antonio Spurs worked hard to get the top seed in the West. For their efforts, the Spurs were rewarded with a team that has created matchup nightmares for them - the Phoenix Suns.

Stephon Marbury scored 18 points and handed out seven assists, while Shawn Marion added 17 points and 14 rebounds, as the Phoenix Suns nipped the Spurs 86-84 in Game 4 of their best-of-seven series.

Reserve center Jake Voskuhl made a jump hook over Tim Duncan with 2.3 seconds remaining to give the Suns the win.

"Normally, I'm running out to set screens," Voskuhl said. "The ball ended up in Penny's hands. Penny beat his defender. My defender went to help pick up Penny, and Penny flipped it to me. I just turned around and hit a hook shot."

Duncan finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Bruce Bowen and Tony Parker added 19 points apiece.

San Antonio committed 25 turnovers resulting in 33 Phoenix points.

"We were sloppy," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It was gross turnovers that made for easy layups at the other end."

Game 5 is Tuesday night at SBC Center.