A judge ruled on Thursday that Jermaine O'Neal can play for the Indiana Pacers on Saturday against the Detroit Pistons.

The NBA had appealed an arbitrator's decision to shorten by 10 games O'Neal's suspension for his part in a brawl Nov. 19 at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

O'Neal had been suspended for 25 games by David Stern.

"We have consistently maintained that the arbitrator has no legitimate role in this matter," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. "While we obviously agree with Mr. Kaplan's decision upholding virtually all of the suspensions, we don't agree with his conclusion that the conduct did not occur on the playing court, and we have no choice other than to challenge it in federal court."