Pacers' O'Neal says he will play Monday night

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal says he will return to the court Monday night after sitting out more than two months with a bone bruise on his left knee.

O'Neal is among the league's best interior defenders, and the Pacers could use him for the stretch run. They enter Monday's game against the Miami Heat three games behind Atlanta for the eighth and final playoff slot in the Eastern Conference with nine games left.

O'Neal averaged 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in 33 games before leaving in the first quarter Jan. 16 against Golden State.