INDIANAPOLIS, April 23 - The NBA's decision to schedule three days off between Games 2 and 3 may not sit well with some, but it has worked out well for Jamaal Tinsley.

The Pacers' rookie point guard suffered a sprained right knee on the first possession of the third quarter in Game 1. He returned to score eight points in the fourth quarter of the Pacers' 89-83 victory, then started in Game 2, he was obviously not a full speed during the 95-79 loss. He did not score in 15 minutes, committing three turnovers and picking up five fouls. He also had five assists and two steals.

He said afterward that his knee was "real sore" but that with the days off and treatment, "I should be all right."

Tinsley

"I couldn't attack the way I wanted to," Tinsley said. "It was hard to move the way I wanted. ... You know my game, I always put pressure on people. But I wasn't attacking. I was just trying to play, but certain stuff I can't do."

The Pacers did not practice on Tuesday, instead gathering for a meeting and film session. Afterward, coach Isiah Thomas said Tinsley's injury "is an issue."

"He's banged up," Thomas said. "And if he can't be any more effective, then we'll have to try to do something else."

Asked what his options were, Thomas said, "we'll see."

Small forward Ron Artest spent some time against Kidd in the fourth quarter of Game 1 and played well, but Thomas ruled that out as anything more than a part-time, situational possibility.

The injury originally looked severe. Trying to stop a driving Todd MacCulloch on the fast break, Tinsley landed awkwardly on his right leg, then tumbled into the front row of seats at Continental Airlines Arena. After laying prone for a brief time, he was carried off the court with his arms around the shoulders of teammates Austin Croshere and Jeff Foster. He was examined and treated in the locker room, where the diagnosis was of a "mild sprain."

Ollie

Neither Tinsley nor backup Kevin Ollie has had the answer for the Nets' Jason Kidd, who has averaged 23.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 9.0 assists in the two games thus far, shooting .472 from the field (17 of 36). The Pacers, on the other hand, have gotten combined averages of 9.0 points, 8.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds from Tinsley and Ollie.

Tinsley has been plagued by foul trouble against Kidd, with nine in 44 minutes. Ollie actually played more (47 minutes) in the first two games.

"I can't control the officials," Tinsley said. "I've just got to play."

The Pacers don't need Tinsley to match Kidd's numbers, but they do need his presence. He finished the season on a high, averaging 8.8 points and 9.0 assists in the final six games, but has gotten off to a slow start in his first postseason appearance.

"We need him to be a little healthier, play a little better and stay out of foul trouble," said Thomas. "We are not as fluid a team when he is not in the basketball game."