The good news was that, 45 minutes before the Indiana Pacers tipped off against Detroit on Friday, Jermaine O'Neal was putting on his uniform.

The bad news was that it was a practice uniform. O'Neal, who suffered a hyperextended left knee in Tuesday's loss to Milwaukee, is progressing better than first expected and could rejoin the team next week.

 




O'Neal said Friday he hoped to play in Boston on Wednesday. The Pacers are in Miami tonight and Chicago on Monday.

"I'm a lot further ahead in my rehabilitation