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Pacers Rest Up, Practice For Saturday Matchup

Last updated on Friday, February 8, 2008

(INDIANAPOLIS, IN) - The Indiana Pacers will return to the practice floor this morning as they get ready for Saturday night’s game with the Portland Trail Blazers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

The Pacers snapped a season-high seven-game losing streak with a 103-100 win over the New York Knicks Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden. With that win, the Pacers moved to within a half-game of the New Jersey Nets for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff berth.

There is still no word as to if or when the Pacers expect Jermaine O'Neal to return to the lineup. O'Neal has missed the last ten games as he rehabilitates his surgically repaired left knee.

O'Neal had surgery to repair torn cartilage in the knee last April and believes he aggravated the injury by returning too soon. O'Neal has said that he will not return until he is positive that the knee is fully healed, even if it means sitting out the remainder of this season.

Head coach Jim O'Brien said before Wednesday's game in New York that he expected O'Neal to return after the all-star break, but had no timetable for the six-time all-star's return.

O'Neal had been the subject of trade rumors before the latest setback - most prominently a deal involving the New Jersey Nets and former all-star Vince Carter.

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