INDIANAPOLIS – Jermaine O’Neal had 25 points and 20 rebounds, and the Indiana Pacers withstood a furious fourth-quarter rally to defeat the Denver Nuggets 71-60 Tuesday night.

Ron Artest and Al Harrington bottled up Denver rookie Carmelo Anthony, who scored just 2 points on 1-of-13 shooting in his worst night as a pro.

Rockets 86, Nets 75

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Steve Francis ignited a game-ending 14-1 run with eight straight points and an assist to lead the Houston Rockets to an 86-75 victory Tuesday night over the New York Nets.

Francis finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and six assists as the Rockets won for the third time in four games. Cuttino Mobley led Houston with 20 points.

. Maurice Taylor added eight of his 14 points in the final quarter,