Jermaine O'Neal is expected to make his season debut after sitting out most of the preseason with a left knee injury.

"It's a good transition for me because he brings so much to our basketball team," Pacers coach Jim O'Brien said after practice Thursday. "He's one of the best low-post threats in the league. He's a very, very good passer. He makes everybody better on the offensive end. He's our anchor defensively."

O'Neal, who played in three preseason games, said his knee is fine and won't be an issue. Conditioning, however, could be.

O'Neal rated his conditioning at about 70 percent.