INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Ron Artest scored 18 points and fueled a third-quarter surge Monday as Indiana snapped a two-game slide with a 94-86 victory over Memphis.

Artest was benched for the second half of Saturday's home loss to New Jersey for what coach Rick Carlisle termed "conduct detrimental to winning," with Artest's shots and selection apparently an issue.

The forward missed Monday's shootaround, saying he overslept. Artest met with Pacers executives Larry Bird and Donnie Walsh before claiming he had a sore back.

Artest entered with 4:56 left in the first quarter and scored seven points the rest of the period. He started the second half and scored seven more in the third period, including two free throws and a dunk in a 12-2 burst that gave Indiana the lead for good.

Memphis dropped to 0-8 all-time in Indiana and has lost six in a row overall.