INDIANAPOLIS (AP) _ Rik Smits got Indiana out quickly and the Pacers weathered a fourth-quarter rally by New Jersey after Reggie Miller was ejected.

Miller scored 24 points before getting his second technical foul in the third quarter and Smits added 22 as Indiana beat the Nets 116-111 on Tuesday night.

Miller shot 10-of-14 before being ejected for arguing a no-call with 4:12 to play in the third quarter.

Smits scored 10 of the Pacers' first 12 points and shot 10-of-20 from the field for the game.

"I like to start like that. Many times, it carries over to the team," Smits said.

The Pacers led by as many as 19 points early in the fourth quarter, but Kerry Kittles and Stephon Marbury fueled a 21-6 rally that brought the Nets to 112-107 with 47 seconds to play.

The Pacers survived by making four free throws in the final 36 seconds.

Forwards Austin Croshere and Dale Davis carried the Pacers in the wake of Miller's ejection. Croshere scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds, and Davis added seven rebounds and four points. Jalen Rose finished with 19 points.

"We've had a lot of guys step up and help us on offense," Smits said. "Jalen and Austin did the job tonight."

Nets coach Don Casey agreed.

"We were mauled on the inside. Rik (Smits), (Austin) Croshere and (Dale) Davis were just too strong for us," he said.

Indiana has won six straight games and 14 of its last 16. The Pacers have won 10 consecutive games at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Kittles scored 33 points for New Jersey, which lost for the first time in five games. The Nets are 2-11 on the road. Marbury finished with 26 points and 10 assists and watched the last two minutes from the bench.

"We went with the guys who were hustling and playing well," Casey said. "The other guys were just playing much better."

Pacers backup center Sam Perkins severely sprained his right wrist while taking a charge from Marbury shortly before the half and did not return after scoring eight points. He will have it re-examined Wednesday.

Smits and Jackson got the Pacers started early. Smits scored 10 of his team's first 12 points, and Jackson notched seven assists in the opening quarter. Indiana led 8-2 and 17-8 en route to a 30-28 lead after one.

Perkins hit his second 3-pointer of the game as the Pacers scored 11 straight points for a 54-39 lead 2:24 left in the second. Indiana led 63-45 at the half.

Notes: Jackson has 10 or more assists in four straight games. ... Marbury has double-doubles in his last five games. ... Before his injury, Perkins canned 19-of-37 3-pointers in his last 12 games. ... The Nets have lost seven of their last eight games against Indiana. ... Indiana has allowed an average of 92.7 points in its victories.