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Pacers' O'Neal suffering groin, shoulder injuries

Posted on: Wednesday, 25 January 2006, 09:30 CST

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Indiana Pacers all-star forward Jermaine O'Neal is suffering from groin and shoulder injuries, the team said on its website.

O'Neal limped off court in the fourth quarter of their embarrassing 96-66 rout at Cleveland on Tuesday night.

It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Pacers, who earlier on Tuesday had tried unsuccessfully to trade the controversial Ron Artest to the Sacramento Kings, The Indianapolis Star reported.

"(O'Neal) felt something pop in his groin and tweaked something in his shoulder on one play, his bad shoulder from last year," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle told reporters after Tuesday's game.

"I'm just hoping that when he wakes up he isn't feeling too bad because he's the cornerstone of our team," Carlisle added.

"I heard it pop, obviously that's not a good thing," O'Neal told The Star.

O'Neal is the Pacers' leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 20.9 points and 9.8 rebounds a game.

His injury comes as the reported deal to trade Artest to the Kings failed to materialize.

"We do not have a deal and will not comment on any premature reports regarding a trade involving Ron Artest," Pacers president Donnie Walsh said in a statement.

The comments came after Artest's agent, Mark Stevens, had told Wednesday's edition of The Star that Artest's trade to Sacramento was awaiting league approval.

Artest was placed on the inactive list by the Pacers on December 12 after saying he wanted to be traded. He missed most of last season after being suspended for his role in a 2004 brawl at Detroit.

(Writing by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina)

Source: REUTERS

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