Al Harrington scored 21 points in his homecoming as the short-handed Indiana Pacers beat the New Jersey Nets 103-89 on Wednesday night in the pre-season opener for both teams.

Indiana forward Jermaine O'Neal returned from his trial in Detroit over a lawsuit stemming from the brawl with fans there two years ago and dressed for the game but did not play. He missed practice on Tuesday.

Pacers guard Stephen Jackson, who was charged earlier Wednesday with felony criminal recklessness and misdemeanour battery and disorderly conduct for his role in an altercation at an area strip club last Friday, was not with the team.

The sparse crowd offered a mixed reaction when Jamaal Tinsley, who was at the club with Jackson, was introduced as a starter.

New Jersey guard Jay Williams played for the first time since a motorcycle accident nearly ended his career three years ago. He finished with two points in 16 minutes.

Harrington was 10-for-21 from the field and had nine rebounds in his first game with the Pacers after spending two years with the Atlanta Hawks.

Second-year guard Antoine Wright led New Jersey with 23 points. He averaged 1.8 points as a rookie.

The Pacers trailed 13-3 before pulling ahead 24-21 at the end of the first quarter.

Richard Jefferson scored 13 points in the second quarter to help the Nets take a 51-45 lead at halftime.

New Jersey held on to take a 78-73 lead into the fourth quarter.

Indiana went on a 12-0 run early in the fourth quarter that included a spectacular dunk by Maceo Baston on an alley-oop pass from Orien Greene. The basket gave the Pacers a 90-80 lead, and New Jersey never recovered.