Judge rules for O’Neal; Pacers win

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 in East Rutherford, N.J.

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 3 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.

Heat 89, Pistons 78: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Dwyane Wade’s first NBA triple-double kept Miami’s winning streak alive.

Wade had 31 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds to lead the Heat past Detroit to extend their franchise-record winning streak to 13 games.

Miami, which last lost on Dec. 4, won 14 games in a month for the first time.

Spurs 114, Trail Blazers 80: At Portland, Ore., Tim Duncan had 19 points and nine rebounds and Tony Parker added 18 points, leading San Antonio to a win over Portland.

Darius Miles had 17 points for the Blazers in their most lopsided loss of the season.

James may not miss time

LeBron James will wear a mask to protect a broken bone in his face, but Cavaliers coach Paul Silas said he hopes the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year won’t miss any games.

James fractured his left cheekbone and got a mild concussion after he was accidentally elbowed by Houston center Dikembe Mutombo in the second quarter of the Rockets’ 98-87 victory Wednesday night.

James, who told Silas that he briefly lost consciousness after being hit, will be fitted with the protective mask once the swelling in his face goes down. The coach was relieved the injury wasn’t more serious and thinks Cleveland’s leading scorer will be back Monday at Charlotte.