O'Neal leads Pacers past Nets 96-83
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-31 14:24

Hours after a judge ruled that he didn't have to serve the final 10 games of a suspension, Jermaine O'Neal scored 31 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 96-83 win over the New Jersey Nets on Thursday night.

Indiana Pacers' Jermaine O'Neal pulls down a rebound away from New Jersey Nets' Jabari Smith (55) during the fourth quarter Thursday night, Dec. 30, 2004, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Pacers beat the Nets, 96-83. [AP]

Jeff Foster added 16 points and a season-high 16 rebounds and Austin Croshere had 17 points off the bench as the Pacers won their third straight game, matching their longest streak since the Nov. 19 brawl in Detroit that led to multiple suspensions.

O'Neal got a 25-game suspension, but an arbitrator reduced it to 15 games last week allowing him to return to action. U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels upheld that decision in New York about three hours before the Pacers and Nets took the court.

"It's a big relief," O'Neal said before playing in his fourth game since the arbitrator's ruling. "I can get back to getting my team to a championship level."

The relief in O'Neal was evident, although he had an up-and-down game. After missing his first shot, he hit five in a row to help the Pacers grab the lead for good in the first quarter.

He missed eight straight shots during the second and third quarters and once sat down next to two young children at courtside to laugh about his woes.

However, when the game was on the line in the fourth quarter O'Neal took over. The All-Star forward scored nine points to spoil Vince Carter's debut as a Net in New Jersey.

After Richard Jefferson scored to cut the Pacers' lead to 66-65, O'Neal converted a three-point play to spark a 15-4 spurt that gave Indiana an 81-69 lead. O'Neal, who fouled out in the closing minutes, also had two other baskets in the run.

Carter had 25 points to lead the Nets, including a couple of monster dunks that got the Nets' first sellout crowd of the season out of the seats. Jefferson and Rodney Buford added 20 apiece. Jason Kidd had 11 rebounds, 10 assists and four points.

Jamaal Tinsley, who missed his first nine shots from the field, had 15 points for the Pacers, including a 3-pointer in the game-deciding run.

Notes@: The Nets will donate a percentage of all tickets sold over the next two weeks to UNICEF to aid those in Asia affected by the tsunamis. ... Croshere hit a running 3-pointer at the end of the first quarter, but a review showed it came just after the horn.

Close

FIFA World Player of the Year: Ronaldinho Tennis babe: Maria Sharapova Serena launches 2005 fashion collection in Miami

Today's Top News     Top Sports News
China to give 500m yuan aid to tsunami victims         Asian tsunami toll jumps to over 125,000         3rd Chinese confirmed dead; aid rushing in         Argentina club fire kills at least 174         Farming trade deficit hits record         China rings alarm over possible flu pandemic	China's Yao tops NBA All-Star voting       Real Madrid name Luxemburgo as new coach       Man United's Rooney banned for three matches       Streaking Heat defeats Pistons 89-78       O'Neal leads Pacers past Nets 96-83       Judge rules O'Neal can continue to play