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WHAT IT MEANS: The New Jersey Nets came up short -- literally. They nearly rallied from an 11-point deficit with 2:24 remaining in regulation, but Sasha Vujacic’s 3-point attempt with 9.6 seconds that could've tied the game at 98 was an airball and the Indiana Pacers escaped with a 102-98 victory over the resilient Nets at the Prudential Center. New Jersey (22-47) led by as many as 12 in the second quarter, but struggled in the third, and that proved to be the difference. The Nets wound up shooting just 39.8 percent overall -- 24.1 percent in that that third. They were just 8-for-26 from 3-point range. If not for a 5-for-9 fourth quarter from downtown, it would’ve been even worse. The Nets have now lost four games in a row -- the last two without superstar point guard Deron Williams. Meanwhile the Pacers (31-40) maintained their lead on the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

TURNING POINT: The Pacers made just 15 field goals in the first half and trailed 44-40 at the break. But they made 11 shots in the third quarter, highlighted by a pair of 9-0 runs that allowed them to lead by as many as 11. In all, the Nets were outscored 29-17 in the third, allowed the Pacers to shoot 61.1 percent and trailed 69-61 heading in to the fourth. Indiana scored 16 points in the paint in the third.

DIFFERENCE MAKERS: Sundiata Gaines had a career-high 18 points for the Nets, but wound up missing a 3-pointer right before Vujacic was blocked that would’ve knotted the game. Brook Lopez added a team-high 20 points. Vujacic and Jordan Farmar each had 14. Kris Humphries' streak of double-doubles ended at 10. He had nine points and 14 rebounds. Danny Granger had 17 of his 20 points in the second half, while Roy Hibbert dropped in a game-high 24 points for the Pacers.

NUMBERS CRUNCH: The Pacers went 27-for-30 from the free throw line (90 percent). The Nets went 12-for-18 from the charity stripe (66.7 percent). Indiana went a miserable 5-for-16 from downtown.

UP NEXT: Three straight games on the road. The Nets will play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, the Orlando Magic on Friday and the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday before returning home for a matchup with the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.