He may have only played in seven games this season, but according to Mark Monteith of the Indianapolis Star Jonathan Bender's latest attempt at a break out season may once again be over early, the young Pacers forward might have to sit out the rest of the season while rehabilitating the right knee he injured in September.

While Pacers officials are not ready to admit defeat just yet, with only 27 games remaining in the season they do acknowledge that Bender is not close to returning.

Bender has gone on and off the injured list throughout the season, but has been on it since Feb. 4. All that's known for sure now is that he won't come back until he's fully healed.

"We're going to forget about this coming-in and going-out stuff," team president Larry Bird said. "It's a distraction to the team."

Bender is equally determined to bring closure to the series of leg injuries that have haunted him.

"I want to resolve it," he said. "I want to get it over with. Forever."

Just when that will happen, however, remains a mystery. Bender met with physical therapist Dan Dyrek in New York on Saturday before the Pacers played the Knicks.

"He's continuing to make improvements, but I wouldn't say there's any short-term possibility of him being activated," coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's more of a long-range thing. If he keeps doing well, then it's possible before the end of the season we can activate him."