While not one of their prettiest victories of the season, the Indiana Pacers' 87-80 win over Miami at Conseco Fieldhouse Sunday served a dual purpose.

It reminded them that their advantage over the rest of the Eastern Conference might not be as great as the standings indicate. But it also reminded them why they have an advantage.

The Pacers (54-19) are now one victory, or one Detroit loss, from clinching the top seed in the Eastern Conference. With nine games still to play, it's a safe assumption. The more intriguing question is whether they can win five more and set a franchise record for winning percentage, or perhaps get to 60 victories.

True to form, they claim to be focused on nothing more than the next game, which happens to be at Milwaukee on Tuesday.

"The most important thing is that we beat Milwaukee," said Artest, who was wildly inefficient offensively but greatly effective otherwise. "It's a must win over there. Must."

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jermaine O'Neal started the Indiana Pacers' game against the Miami Heat on Sunday after missing the last two contests with a bruised left knee.

O'Neal, averaging a team-leading 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.65 blocks, was injured in a win over the Chicago Bulls last Monday.

Al Harrington, who is averaging a career-best 13.1 points and 6.4 rebounds, had started in place of O'Neal. The Pacers are 4-0 this season without O'Neal.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jermaine O'Neal said Wednesday that he will miss at least the next two games with his bruised left knee.

The Indiana Pacers' forward had the knee examined again Wednesday morning and said there is less pain, but more swelling than anticipated.

``Hopefully I'll be back for Miami on Sunday,'' O'Neal said.

O'Neal had an MRI exam Tuesday that revealed the bruise.

Al Harrington will start in O'Neal's place against Dallas, coach Rick Carlisle said.

The All-Star forward injured his knee in Monday's win over the Chicago Bulls. He collided with Bulls guard Ronald Dupree while trying to set a pick on the baseline and immediately crumpled to the floor.

O'Neal is averaging a team-leading 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.65 blocks a game for the Pacers (51-19).

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indiana Pacers placed guard/forward Jonathan Bender on the injured list Wednesday because of a strained right shoulder.

Bender, injured Friday night against Sacramento, has played in just 18 games this season while serving several stints on the injured list with left knee problems. He's averaging 7.1 points.

The Pacers activated center Primoz Brezec to take Bender's spot on the roster.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Jermaine O'Neal has a bone bruise on his left knee and will not play game in the Indiana Pacers' game against Dallas on Wednesday.

An MRI exam performed Tuesday revealed only a bruise and no structural damage. No timetable has been set for his return.

``It's positive news, without question,'' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ``The fact that there is a bruise means there's some significant pain, so we'll deal with it.''

Al Harrington will start in O'Neal's place against Dallas, Carlisle said.

The All-Star forward injured his knee in Monday's win over the Chicago Bulls. He collided with Bulls guard Ronald Dupree while trying to set a pick on the baseline and immediately crumpled to the floor.

Two teammates helped him off the court and into the locker room with 8:21 left in the first half. He did not return to the game.

O'Neal is averaging a team-leading 20.3 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.65 blocks a game for the Pacers (51-19), who are tied with Sacramento for the best record in the NBA.

The Indiana Pacers appear to have a set playing rotation and a set roster of 12. Coach Rick Carlisle, however, doesn't recommend any assumptions.

"I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a change, but I'm not sure how likely a change is," he said before Monday's game with Chicago at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Jamison Brewer, Primoz Brezec and rookie James Jones have been on the injured list most of the season, although all three have played.

Carlisle said he wouldn't be reluctant to activate any of them, whether by injury or by choice. Jermaine O'Neal was injured in Monday's game, but is not expected to be out for an extended period.

Pacers forward Ron Artest knows what he would do: Activate Brewer. Artest occasionally slips in a plug for the point guard, and did it again Monday.

"Hopefully we can get Jamison Brewer off (the injured list) and he can help us keep these point guards contained," Artest said. "He can be the fourth point guard or whatever. Any minutes we get from him would be helpful for us."

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal left Monday night's game against the Chicago Bulls in the second quarter with a sprained left knee.

O'Neal injured the knee trying to set a pick, colliding with Bulls guard Ronald Dupree just inside the baseline.

O'Neal had to be helped off the court and into the locker room with 8:21 left in the half. The Pacers were leading 33-20.

O'Neal, who leads the Pacers with 20.6 points per game and 10.2 rebounds, will be re-evaluated on Tuesday, the team said.

Jonathan Bender made the trip but did not suit up for the Indiana Pacers' game Saturday night against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Bender sat out with a sprained right shoulder, suffered Friday night in the second quarter of the Pacers' home loss to Sacramento.

The injury interrupted a breakout performance by Bender. He scored 15 points, on 6-of-6 shooting, in just nine first-half minutes before the injury.

He returned in the second half with a blue pad covering the shoulder, but played just seven tentative minutes and missed his only shot attempt.

An X-ray after the game revealed no fracture. Bender's status for the immediate future, however, won't be determined until Monday at the earliest.

"He was sore today but feeling a little bit better, so we're not going to put him on the injured list yet," Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. "We'll just take a look Monday and see where he is."

NEW YORK (AP) Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest was suspended for one game without pay by the NBA on Friday for elbowing Portland's Derek Anderson.

Artest hit Anderson in the face during Indiana's 80-71 victory Wednesday night. No foul was called on the play.

Artest, who led the NBA in flagrant fouls last season, sat out Friday's game against Sacramento.

``There's no point in talking about it,'' Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. ``The decision's been made, so we have to live with it and deal with it and figure out a way to win a game without one of our best players.''

Carlisle said Al Harrington would start in Artest's place and defend Sacramento's Peja Stojakovic.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Indiana Pacers forward Ron Artest missed practice Thursday to deal with a personal matter.

Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said the absence was excused, and Artest would be in the starting lineup for Friday's home game against Sacramento Kings.

Artest arrived at Conseco Fieldhouse minutes after practice ended and said he had a doctor's appointment for his injured thumb, among other issues.

Artest has been playing with a heavy wrap on his left, non-shooting thumb after having surgery to repair torn ligaments Feb. 19.

``Everything happened today,'' Artest said, without elaborating further.

Artest was benched for the start of a game against New Orleans in February for missing practice while returning from All-Star weekend in Los Angeles.

He also did not start against Memphis in December after he overslept and missed a practice the previous day.