INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AFP) — Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal came off the bench to score nine points Monday in a 105-85 victory over Miami, making a National Basketball Association return after missing 33 games.
A sore left knee had kept the six-time NBA All-Star sidelined but he came back to practice March 19 and in his return to the playing lineup saw 17 minutes of action, hitting 3-of-4 shots and grabbing two rebounds.
O'Neal underwent surgery on the knee last April but has not been able to match his statistics of past years this season, averaging 15.3 points and 7.3 rebounds in 33 games this season.
At 31-43, the Pacers have won six of their past eight games to pull within three games of Atlanta for the eighth and last Eastern Conference playoff spot with eight games remaining.
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