Pacers Pull Out Stops Even Without Artest

With stopper Ron Artest sidelined by a right wrist injury, the Indiana Pacers responded by holding the Washington Wizards to 34% shooting in a 111-87 victory Thursday night at Indianapolis.

Anthony Johnson and Fred Jones alternated defending Washington’s Gilbert Arenas, the NBA’s fourth-leading scorer. Arenas came in averaging 28 points, but the Pacers held him to 17 on five-for-18 shooting.

Stephen Jackson led the Pacers with 30 points on 13-for-18 shooting. Jermaine O’Neal added 25 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana, which trailed by 16 in the second quarter but went on to make 59% of its shots to bounce back from losses to Seattle and Dallas.

Houston 106, Sacramento 95 -- Tracy McGrady had 28 points and the Rockets began a six-game trip by overcoming a 14-point, third-quarter deficit to hand the Kings their fourth straight loss at home for the first time since the 1997-98 season.

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Retired since March, former Purdue coach Gene Keady, 69, will join the Toronto Raptors in an unspecified position. Keady, 512-270 in 25 seasons at Purdue, is expected to become a consultant or bench coach.