• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

O'Neal faces former team as Pacers aim for second straight win

Dec 8, 2006 - 4:11 PM Portland (7-13) at Indiana (10-10) 7:00 pm EST

INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Jermaine O'Neal was buried on the bench as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. Playing time has not been an issue for him with the Indiana Pacers.

O'Neal squares off against his former club for the second time this season when the Pacers host the Trail Blazers on Friday.

Drafted out of high school with the 17th overall pick in 1996, O'Neal did not see much of the court while in Portland, serving primarily as a backup to Rasheed Wallace. But since coming to Indiana in 2000-01, O'Neal has blossomed, averaging at least 20.1 points each of the past four seasons.

Despite being saddled with foul trouble, O'Neal still finished with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists in Indiana's 105-97 triumph at Portland on November 28.

On Friday, the Pacers look to carry some momentum from Wednesdays' 94-80 victory over the Orlando Magic. Al Harrington and Stephen jackson each scored 26 points while Jeff Foster hauled in 18 rebounds for Indiana, which snapped a three-game skid.

The Trail Blazers, losers in six of their last seven, try to rebound from a 102-94 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday.

Jarrett Jack led Portland with 20 points while Zach Randolph added 20 and Martell Webster finished with 19.