EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Another playoff miracle by Reggie Miller, a banked-in three-pointer at the buzzer in regulation, couldn’t stop Jason Kidd from leading the New Jersey Nets into the second round for the first time in 18 years.

Kidd scored 20 of his career-playoff best 31 points in the fourth quarter and two overtimes and the Nets eliminated Miller and the Pacers 120-109 Thursday night in the deciding Game 5 of their first-round series.

New Jersey's Kenyon Martin dunks over Indiana's Ron Artest. The Nets eliminated the Pacers on Thursday at East Rutherford, N.J.

Miller was at his best under pressure, hitting from 35 feet to force overtime and tying the game again on a two-handed dunk with 3.1 seconds left in the first overtime. But he went 0-for-4 in the second overtime all on three-point shots.

It marked only the second time since the Nets joined the NBA in 1976-77 that they have made it out of the first round. The only other time was in 1984 against Philadelphia.

“To do that for this franchise means a lot to me and my teammates, said Kenyon Martin, who added 29 points. Keith Van Horn had 27 before fouling out as New Jersey advanced to a best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal against the Charlotte Hornets.

Miller finished with 31 points and Ron Mercer had 20 in only the third series-deciding playoff game in NBA history to go to double-overtime.

Miller’s three-pointer that barely beat the buzzer replays showed 0.1 seconds remaining when the ball left his hand almost ended the greatest season in Nets history.

Kidd wouldn’t let it die.

Even though his jumper at the end of the first overtime went in and out, Kidd set a three-point play by Kerry Kittles and then added a jumper with 3:07 left to give the Nets a lead they never lost.

“We just left it all on the court,” Martin said. “It was Game 5, we wanted to take it. J. Kidd stepped up and showed why he’s MVP.”

Mercer scored for Indiana to make it 112-109 with 2:45 left, but the Pacers went scoreless the rest of the way.

Kidd’s final basket gave the Nets a 114-109 lead with 1:10 to play. He collapsed near the Nets’ bench in exhaustion in the final minute after playing 51 minutes.

The Nets seemingly had the series locked up after Kevin Ollie missed a shot with five seconds to play and New Jersey ahead 96-93. Richard Jefferson got the rebound and needed to make just one of two free throws to ice the game.

Jefferson missed both and the Pacers rushed the ball upcourt, Ollie getting the ball to Miller some 10 feet behind the three-point arc. Miller turned and fired. The shot hit hard off the backboard and banked in.

The three officials conferred and Bob Delaney quickly ruled that the basket counted.

A replay seemed to support the officials. However, a second replay showed Miller with the ball still in his hands as the red light on the basket illuminated.