O’Neal Enjoys a High With 55-Point Effort

Jermaine O’Neal scored a career-high and NBA season-high 55 points and had 11 rebounds to carry the Indiana Pacers to a 116-99 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday night at Indianapolis.

O’Neal’s 55 bested Allen Iverson’s 54 points on Dec. 18, also against the Bucks. His previous career high was 39, set on Nov. 12.

He made 18 of 28 shots from the field and 19 of a franchise-record 25 free throws, just missing George McInnis’ team record of 58 points, set in 1972.

Desmond Mason had 21 points for Milwaukee.

Phoenix 122, Minnesota 115 -- Amare Stoudemire scored 34 points before his ejection for tossing the ball at Latrell Sprewell to help the Suns overcome Kevin Garnett’s career-high 47 points at Minneapolis and send the Timberwolves to their seventh loss in 10 games.

Sacramento 105, New York 98 -- Maurice Evans came off the bench to score a career-high 16 points to help the Kings win for the eighth time in their last nine road games and gain their first victory at New York since January 1996.

Washington 112, New Jersey 88 -- Larry Hughes matched his season high with 33 points and the Wizards made a franchise-record 14 three-pointers in a victory at Washington. The previous record was 12, set in November 2003.

Vince Carter had a season-high 31 points on 15-for-23 shooting for the Nets.