Jermaine O'Neal was nearly in tears after the Pacers fell to the Magic by a final score of 95-87 on national television Friday.

"It's just disappointing to lose the way we have been losing," O'Neal said. "It's embarrassing; it's a lot of things."

O'Neal was asked about wanting to be traded, a question likely to continue to come up as the Pacers move closer to missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996-97.

After pausing for 10 seconds to take in the question, O'Neal put a towel over his face to hide his emotions and ended the interview session. O'Neal has said a number of times since last summer that he plans to sit down with CEO Donnie Walsh and president Larry Bird at the end of the season to address future plans.

Jermaine O'Neal missed the Pacers' game against the Nets on Wednesday night with left knee and ankle sprains.

O'Neal's absence is a major blow for the Pacers, who started the night one game behind the Nets for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Three years ago, the Indiana Pacers had the best record in the NBA. Now, they're one loss from tying their franchise record for consecutive defeats.

The Pacers need to win at home against Atlanta on Saturday night to avoid matching the 12-game skid set during the 1988-89 season.

The slide has been particularly tough for fans who have watched the Pacers fall to 29-35 after reaching the playoffs in 16 of the past 17 years -- including six trips to the Eastern Conference finals.

"They're not used to that," Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh told The Associated Press. "We don't like that, we don't want that to happen, and they must be frustrated by that."

The players know what's happening and why, but haven't been able to do anything about it.

"Overall, the general feeling is pretty shocked: Man, how could this group of guys lose 11 in a row?" guard Mike Dunleavy said. "It's kind of been the perfect storm between injuries and road trips and tough opponents and all that."

Jermaine O'Neal started Wednesday against Washington after sitting out three games with a sprained left knee, but three other Pacers were inactive because of injuries.

Jamaal Tinsley, who scored a career-high 37 points in a loss to Minnesota on Tuesday, was out with a sore left foot and hamstring. Center Jeff Foster (back spasms) and reserve forward Marquis Daniels (sore left knee) also were inactive. Daniels missed his seventh game in a row.

Jermaine O'Neal has missed three games since an MRI exam last week revealed a sprained left knee. O'Neal traveled to Los Angeles for a second opinion on Monday and got similar results.

The Pacers do not know when he will be ready to return.

"There's no additional damage,'' said Deddrick Faison, O'Neal's business manager and spokesman. "He'll come back when he can after the swelling goes down and he gains more mobility and strength.''

O'Neal aggravated an already hurt knee in last Wednesday night's loss at Utah.

The diagnosis after the first MRI was that O'Neal might have been able to return for Wednesday's home game against the Washington Wizards.

"It all depends on his body,'' Faison said. "I would hate to speculate. I don't know.''

Stephen Jackson and Ron Artest were once teammates in Indiana and have had brushes with the law.  Jackson called Artest to lend his support this week.

"Just to tell him I'm here for him if he needs anything," said Jackson. "It's an unfortunate incident because he was doing so well. I know him and his wife and they love each other to death. I just hope they can get this resolved and everybody comes out alright."

Indiana Pacers Head Coach Rick Carlisle announced Saturday that guard Jamaal Tinsley was suspended for Saturday night?s game against Philadelphia for conduct detrimental to the team.

A man is suing the Indiana Pacers and the performer who portrays its feline mascot, alleging the 6-foot-tall performer permanently injured him when he was tackled during a free-throw shooting contest.

Nathaniel Jackson, who lives in northern Indiana's Adams County, alleges in his lawsuit that as he entered Conseco Fieldhouse for a March 11, 2005 game against Golden State he was asked to take part in a free-throw shooting contest during a time out.

Jackson, who is in his mid-20s, initially declined, saying he was recovering from back surgery but was assured that "there would be no reason for concern or injury," according to the lawsuit, which was filed March 2 in Marion Superior Court.

After taking part in the free-throw contest, the lawsuit states that Jackson began to leave the basketball court but was tackled from behind by the team's mascot, "Boomer," a 6-foot-tall blue cat with gold whiskers.

While losing their seventh game in a row, the Pacers may also have lost star big man Jermaine O'Neal.  

O'Neal, who nearly made a decision to sit out before the game in Utah, left in the third quarter after he aggravated a sore left knee.  He will undergo an MRI after the Pacers return to Indianapolis today.

"I'm going to have to figure out a way to get back on the court," O'Neal said.  "But I don't know when I can get back on the court."

Pending the MRI results, O'Neal may miss the Pacers' next few games.  He said he hopes to return to action in about a week.

The last time the Pacers lost seven consecutive games was after the infamous brawl turned mayhem at the Palace of Auburn Hills in November of 2004.

Reggie Miller was reportedly turned down the Mavericks, but he would gladly come out of retirement if he could find a championship contender.

"I would trade all of the 25,000 points I scored and all of my fourth-quarter heroics for a ring," Miller said. "You are judged by wins and losses, but the ring defines you. Personally, I was never able to get it done. That has left me with an empty feeling in my stomach."