Indiana’s George has first practice since injury

INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana Pacers star Paul George underwent Thursday his first full practice session since breaking his right leg last August and said he hopes to return for NBA games in March.

The 24-year-old small forward suffered the injury August 1 in Las Vegas during a practice match by the USA team that would go on to win last year's Basketball World Cup, a gruesome open tibia-fibula fracture in the fourth quarter.

Most expected that George would miss the entire 2014- 15 NBA campaign but he vowed to return for at least a portion of the season and took a major step toward that goal Thursday.

"It felt really good," George said. "I'm still hoping for March. That's the date I wish to return. I still have some steps to overcome, some hurdles. But that's a goal of mine."

That would be good news for the Pacers, who without George are fighting to avoid missing the playoffs for the first time since 2010 after reaching the Eastern Conference finals the past two seasons.

"He has just been doing a little more and more," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said, calling his l atest workout "just taking a step. Nothing more.

"(There is) no timetable for his return. He's got a long way to go before he gets cleared to play. I'm hopeful. But a lot has to happen before t hen."