BOSTON — Vince Carter landed awkwardly, grimaced and leaned on a table near the Celtics' bench. The game wasn't even five minutes old and already New Jersey's playoff chances seemed to sink as he limped to the locker room.

He knew better.

Less than three minutes after missing a layup and being kneed in the left Achilles tendon by Antoine Walker, Carter returned to help the Nets earn the NBA's last playoff berth with a 102-93 win over Boston last night.

"I just wanted to add some drama," he joked, a smile in place of the look of pain. "I knew I didn't do anything bad. I was just uncomfortable."

He was very comfortable with his shooting in the second half when he scored 24 of his 37 points. He even outscored the Celtics 15-8 in the third quarter and sparked the Nets' comeback from a 19-point, second-quarter deficit to the victory that gave them the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference.

New Jersey and Cleveland, which beat Toronto, both finished at 42-40, but the Nets held the tiebreaker edge.

"It's a great feeling. We accomplished a lot," said Carter, obtained from Toronto on Dec. 17. "My goal was just to come out and lend a helping hand."

He did much more than that. The Nets were 32-24 with him. He led them in scoring in 16 of their last 19 games, averaging 32.5 points in those 16 contests.

"Vince has carried us since he's been here," New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. "Vince, time after time after time, delivers."

Kinks in the Kings

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento starting center Brian Skinner sprained his right foot in the first quarter of the regular-season finale against the Phoenix Suns last night.

Skinner is averaging 7.6 points and 8.9 rebounds since joining the Kings in the trade that sent Chris Webber to Philadelphia.

If Skinner's injury persists into the playoffs, Sacramento might have a capable replacement in mind. Brad Miller, the Kings' two-time All-Star center, missed the final 25 games with leg injuries, but he hopes to return in the first week of the playoffs.

Also last night, the Kings activated guard Bobby Jackson from the injured list and placed forward Peja Stojakovic on the list. Stojakovic hasn't played since straining his groin Friday in a win over the Los Angeles Lakers. He's expected to be on the Kings' playoff roster.

Jackson, the NBA's top sixth man in 2003, has played just 24 games this season because of a torn ligament in his left wrist. He hadn't played since Dec. 21.

The Kings open the playoffs Saturday night in Seattle.

Indiana fans say goodbye to Miller

INDIANAPOLIS — After 18 seasons with the Pacers, Reggie Miller scripted his own farewell.

He chose the music, picked the postgame speakers and delivered on the court last night in typical fashion — rallying Indiana late to an 85-83 victory over the Chicago Bulls in his final regular-season game.

Afterward, Miller thanked the fans for helping him grow up and choked back tears as team owner Herb Simon gave him a parting gift — a Bentley car.

"They talk about Los Angeles and Hollywood and New York, but nobody really knows how to do this but in the heartland," Miller told the crowd.

Videotaped messages appeared from celebrities such as former President Clinton, actor David Caruso and comedian Dennis Miller. There also were messages from former rivals, such as John Starks and Michael Jordan, and friend Magic Johnson.

Johnson said: "You have meant so much to the game of basketball because you played the game the right way."

Caruso joked: "As a Knicks fan, I wanted to thank you for all the days and nights of torture you put me through."

Taylor expects McHale back as VP

MINNEAPOLIS — If Kevin McHale wants to return as Minnesota's vice president of basketball operations, Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor will welcome him back.

Taylor said last night that he told McHale to take a week off to think about what he wants to do.

"In order to do this job, you have to have a lot of passion,' McHale said. "... If I don't feel that I have that, I won't do it."

The Wolves went 19-12 under McHale after he fired Flip Saunders, but it wasn't enough to make the Western Conference playoffs. McHale has ruled out continuing to coach.

Notes

• Cleveland point guard Jeff McInnis did not accompany the team to its final regular-season game in Toronto yesterday. The Cavs said he had a "viral syndrome" but didn't give any other specifics.

• The Detroit Pistons put Richard Hamilton on the injured list for the last game of the regular season at Charlotte.

Hamilton needed five stitches above his left eye on Sunday after being fouled by Cleveland's Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Hamilton is expected to play in the Pistons' home playoff game Saturday.