The best-of-seven series will move to Boston for Games 3 and 4 on Friday and Monday.
This game was similar to Game 3 of last year's conference finals between the teams. New Jersey took a 21-point lead into the final period of that contest yet lost the game. The Nets took a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter, only to have Boston pull to 82-80 when Pierce hit two free throws with 7:49 to play.
Jefferson hit two free throws and Martin one to push the lead to five points with 6:33 to play.
A basket inside by Eric Williams cut the gap to three points, and it seemed the Celtics would get a chance to make it closer. With the shot clock winding down and the Nets' bench screaming "butter" -- the watchword to shoot in a hurry -- Jefferson elevated on the right wing and nailed a jumper to give New Jersey an 87-82 lead with 5:26 left.
A missed shot by Walker and a 3-pointer by Kittles gave the Nets all the breathing room they would need, and Jefferson added some highlight film material with a reverse slam.
Top rookies honored
No. 1 overall draft choice Yao Ming and rookie of the year Amare Stoudemire were unanimous choices for the NBA All-Rookie team announced Wednesday.
Houston center Yao and Phoenix forward Stoudemire, who entered the league straight from high school, both received the maximum 56 points in balloting by the league's head coaches.
Miami's Caron Butler (55 points), Orlando's Drew Gooden (45) and Denver's Brazilian forward Nene Hilario (40) also made the team.
Argentinian guard Emanuel Ginobili and Croatian guard Gordon Giricek were picked for the All-Rookie second team.
Yao led rookies in blocks (1.79), was second in rebounding (8.2) and tied Stoudemire in scoring average.
Stoudemire led NBA rookies in rebounding (8.8) and tied for second in scoring (13.5) and blocked shots (1.06). He helped the Suns make the playoffs, where they were eliminated in the first round by top-seeded San Antonio.
The All-Rookie second team: San Antonio's Ginobili, Orlando's Giricek, Cleveland's Carlos Boozer, Chicago's Jay Williams and Boston's JR Bremer.
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