Pacers activate suspended guard Johnson

Johnson was originally slated to miss six-to-eight weeks after breaking his hand a month ago, but Indiana coach Rick Carlisle indicated Johnson was healthy enough to play.

The Pacers are in dire need of players after the league handed down suspensions stemming from the melee at the Palace. Ron Artest is banned for the season and Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal were suspended for 30 and 25 games, respectively.

Injuries to Reggie Miller, Jeff Foster, Jamaal Tinsley, Scot Pollard and Jonathan Bender forced the team to play with just six men in Sunday’s 86-83 loss to Orlando.

Bender, who has only played in two games this season, was placed on the injured list with his sore right knee and is likely to miss six more weeks to get healthy.

Johnson has yet to play this season. He averaged 6.2 points and 2.3 assists in 73 games last season with Indiana.