INDIANAPOLIS – Jamaal Tinsley had 29 points and James Jones had a career-best 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the suspension-weakened Indiana Pacers to a 106-96 win over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.

It was the Pacers’ second game without their three stars – Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson and Jermaine O’Neal – and first since the team learned of the harsh punishment handed down by the NBA on Sunday.

Artest was banned for the season, Jackson for 30 games and O’Neal for 25 for fighting with fans in Friday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons.

Against the Celtics, the Pacers managed to do the little things they needed to pull out an improbable victory.

Fred Jones had 16 points and 10 rebounds and the Pacers outrebounded Boston 45-33 and made 31 of 33 free throws.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 20 points, but shot just 6-of-14 from the field.

With several Pacers’ wearing Jackson’s and O’Neal’s arm bands, they delivered a total team performance.

The scrappy bunch dove for loose balls, made the extra pass and knocked down free throws.

And the hometown fans loved every minute of it.

When Fred Jones poked a pass away and fed Tinsley for a layup and a 12-point lead in the third quarter, the crowd roared its approval, giving a standing ovation to their undermanned charges.

Tinsley was brilliant in his return after missing Saturday’s game with a wrist injury sustained in the brawl at Detroit.

He attacked the basket relentlessly, scoring seven straight points for the Pacers late in the second quarter to help them to a 50-47 halftime lead.

When Tinsley wasn’t scoring, he slipped several nice passes into the paint to set up layups or dunks.

Indiana opened the second half on a 14-5 run to take a 64-52 lead.

Pierce finally got going for Boston, hitting a 3-pointer, a jumper and two free throws to key an 18-5 Celtics run, and the teams started the fourth tied at 72.

But Tinsley refused to let the Pacers blow the game after a spirited effort.

He had a dazzling spin move on a driving layup, then set up two more layups by Scot Pollard and James Jones for an 89-80 lead.

James Jones then sealed the win with a 3-pointer that gave the Pacers a 98-86 lead and their fans a much-needed reason to cheer.

Gary Payton had 14 points and eight assists for Boston.

The game featured two tension-filled moments, both involving Tinsley in the fourth.

He got tangled up with Pierce and the two jawed and exchanged love taps. Then Tinsley was fouled hard by Ricky Davis on a breakaway. Each time, the Pacers calmed each other down, refusing to have a repeat of the events that triggered Friday’s brawl.

Notes: In a show of support, Indianapolis Colts players Mike Doss and Marcus Pollard brought a box of Artest jerseys to practice Tuesday and handed them out to teammates. “I don’t agree with what Ron Artest did, but for the guy to miss a whole year and not get paid, I don’t like it,” Pollard said. … Tinsley got a technical foul at 3:11 of the second when he winged the ball in referee Scott Wall’s direction. … The Celtics are 3-14 in their last 16 trips to Indiana. … Pierce got a technical for arguing at 8:54 of the third.

AP-ES-11-23-04 2151EST