PHOENIX, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Indiana held Stephon Marbury to 14 points as Jermaine O'Neal collected a season-high 32 and 14 rebounds in an 89-82 victory Monday over Phoenix
Ron Artest, out of the lineup due to back spasms, normally leads an agressive Indiana defense that came in allowing a league-best 81.5 points per game.
With Artest missing his first game of the season, the trend of silencing the opponent's leading scorers continued.
O'Neal led the charge on both ends. He scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, which featured an 11-2 run that gave Indiana a 72-64 lead with 8:50 to play.
O'Neal also grabbed eight defensive boards and had six of his eight blocked shots in the second half.
The Pacers rebounded from Sunday's 99-77 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and improved the NBA's best record to 15-3.
