Jonathan Bender plans to return for Saturday's game at Dallas, ending a stretch on the injured list that dates to Nov. 19, and resuming a season that so far consists of two games.

"I'm real excited," he said Monday after participating in his first practice with his Indiana Pacers teammates in more than six weeks.

Injuries limited Bender to 46 games two seasons ago and 21 last season. He had a productive offseason conditioning program, but collided with Jon Barry in a pickup game in September, which set off more problems with his legs as he tried to compensate for knee pain.