Pacers’ O’Neal activated from injured list

O’Neal, whose team was visiting Miami on Sunday, was expected to play against the Heat.

Originally placed on the injured list on March 4, he sustained a subluxated sprain of the right shoulder the previous night during a loss to the Nuggets when he was hit on the right arm by Denver’s Francisco Elson while driving to the basket.

"Unfortunately, I am done for the rest of the regular season," O’Neal said on the team’s Web site shortly after the injury occurred. "There is a chance, if rehab goes well, that I can play maybe in the first round of the playoffs. It just depends on what the rehab does."

The 26-year-old, who made the All-Star Game as a reserve this season, is the Pacers’ leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. He is averaging 24.8 points to go along with 9.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 41 contests, including 39 starts.

Indiana has gone 15-8 and clinched a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs without O’Neal.

In a related move, the Pacers placed guard Jamaal Tinsley on the injured list with a bruised left foot.

As for Sunday’s game, both Austin Croshere and Fred Jones sat out with sore backs.