Pacers’ O’Neal to Miss at Least 8 Weeks

INDIANAPOLIS – Jermaine O’Neal is expected to miss at least eight weeks with a left groin tear, leaving the Indiana Pacers without their leading scorer and rebounder.

The news came Thursday, a day after the Pacers acquired sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic from the Sacramento Kings for the volatile Ron Artest.

The Pacers described the injury as “significant,” but said it was doubtful he would need surgery.

O’Neal injured his groin in the fourth quarter of Indiana’s loss at Cleveland on Tuesday.

After the game, O’Neal said, “We sure have had enough bad luck for a year. I’m really, really concerned. I heard it pop. Hopefully, I won’t need surgery.”

O’Neal leads the Pacers with 20.9 points and 9.8 rebounds per game. When he joins the team, Stojakovic has a 16.5-point scoring average.

Indiana has a 21-20 record and is third in the Central Division.