Martin Just Keeps It Real as the Nets Sweep Knicks

Kenyon Martin was the real deal in carrying the New Jersey Nets to a sweep of the New York Knicks.

Called “fugazy” -- a slang term for fake -- earlier in the series, Martin broke out with a career-high 36 points Sunday night and led the Nets to a 100-94 victory that ended the best-of-seven first-round playoff series in four games at New York.

Martin scored 13 points in the fourth quarter to help New Jersey to its third straight sweep in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

“K-Mart was having a monster night,” said Richard Jefferson, who had 13 points. “We couldn’t get him the ball fast enough.”

A lot of the verbal jabs came from injured Knick forward Tim Thomas, who missed his third straight game because of back spasms after a flagrant foul by Jason Collins in Game 1.

“I just came out and tried to be aggressive,” Martin said. “The series was on the line and good players step up.”

Martin also grabbed 13 rebounds, and Jason Kidd had 20 points and seven assists for the Nets, who have won 14 consecutive postseason games against Eastern opponents, dating to last year when they reached the NBA Finals for the second straight season.

“With all the talk throughout the year, that they were going to catch us, that they were the better team, that they wanted to play us in the playoffs, sometimes it’s fool’s gold,” Kidd said. “Sometimes you wish for something you don’t want.”

Stephon Marbury had 31 points for the Knicks, who had an 85-79 lead with 6:50.

Indiana 90, Boston 75 -- Larry Bird was back in Boston for a familiar result: A playoff victory.

Bird watched from the stands while Ron Artest scored 22 points to help the Pacers sweep the Celtics, 4-0, in the series and earn their first victory in a playoff series after three consecutive first-round losses.

“This was one of our goals: to get out of the first round. And we did that,” said Rick Carlisle, whom Bird picked to coach the Pacers after the Celtics Hall of Famer took over as president of basketball operations. “We’re the first team to advance, so we’re very proud of that.”

The Pacers will have more than a week off before the Eastern Conference semifinals, where they will play the winner of the Miami-New Orleans series.

Paul Pierce had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Mark Blount had 21 and 13 for the Celtics, who went away meekly for the third time in the series.

The loss -- only the third four-game sweep in Celtic playoff history -- could signal the end for interim Coach John Carroll, who took over when Jim O’Brien resigned Jan. 27.