One of the stars of Tuesday’s Game 2, Tim Thomas believes the Bucks have the Nets right where they want them.

The Bucks’ 88-85 Meadowlands victory over the Nets evened the first-round series at 1-1, with a switch to the Bradley Center for the next two games, beginning tonight. The Bucks closed the season winning seven straight at home.

“There isn’t a team in the league we’re afraid of,” said Thomas, the Paterson, N.J., native who pumped in 18 points after being inserted into the starting lineup at power forward. “I feel great with it. Our whole focus was to come in and try to get one. Now it switches over. Everything is in our pocket, our favor. We just have to go home and take care of business.”

The seventh-seeded Bucks showed they could play defense and stop the Nets’ transition game, thereby limiting Jason Kidd’s effectiveness in Game 2. Toni Kukoc was the star of the defensive effort with six steals and constantly deflected passes. The superb Gary Payton also hounded Kidd in the final minute.

“We were hopeful entering the series,” Bucks coach George Karl said. “After Game 1, we weren’t hopeful. After Game 2, we are. I was just happy the way we fought. It was ornery playoff basketball. They’re bigger and stronger than us, but if we don’t let them run, that’s their heart, their juice. The series has [just] begun, but I think it’s going to be a long series.”

The Bucks can take the series back to Jersey up 3-1 if they hold serve. “We did what we had to do – win on their home court,” Michael Redd said. “This is not time to get relaxed and complacent. We had to bear down, we had to be more intense and physical.”

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Karl wasn’t surprised ex-Knick Anthony Mason groused about his backup status after the Bucks’ coach used Joel Przybilla over him as starting center in Game 2. Mason, who feels the Bucks need more defense on the court, feels he’s being treated like a “journeyman.” He did play 24 minutes in Game 2 and defended with his usual vigor and grabbed six boards.

“I don’t know how much more he can play without his leg getting tired,” Karl said. “I think he has 25 minutes in a game and I have to spot those in the way I want to. He probably thinks he can play 35 minutes. He loves the game, which is a great positive. He’s been a great pro, but he also likes to vent. It’s been that way his whole career.”