George enjoys first game, boosts Pacers

NBA: Paul George savored every moment of his postgame stroll to the locker room.

He pumped his fist, traded high-fives with teammates, gave the No. 1 signal to the fans and heard coach Frank Vogel explain how much he had been missed. Yes, a little more than eight months after snapping his right leg during a Team USA scrimmage, George returned to action.

He scored 13 points in 15 minutes and made two key 3-pointers early in the fourth quarter on Sunday, helping Indiana rout visiting Miami 112-89 as the Pacers moved to within one game of the final playoff spot. It was almost perfect.

“Everything that I expected,” George said. “Welcoming me back into the game was probably the greatest moment that I’ve had. It was so hard to not get caught up in the moment.”

George’s return provided a needed boost for Indiana, which had seen its playoff hopes take a mighty tumble over the past three weeks. On March 12, the Pacers were closing in on Milwaukee for the No. 6 spot.

Now the Pacers and Heat, both 34-43, the two Eastern Conference finalists in 2013 and 2014, are tied at No. 9 behind Boston (35-42) and Brooklyn (35-41), which currently hold the final two playoff seeds.

His parents, sister, brother and daughter all attended.

In a pregame ceremony, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presented George with honorary dog tags that went to the rest of the U.S. players last summer while George was recuperating.

Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who coached Team USA when George was hurt, met privately with the Pacers star. Krzyzewski’s team is playing for the national championship game tonight just a few blocks away from Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

When George sustained the gruesome injury during a scrimmage game in Las Vegas last August, few expected to see him back on the court this season.

George had other thoughts, and finally got the opportunity Sunday to demonstrate how far he’s come.

He finished 5 of 12 from the field with three 3-pointers, two rebounds and two assists. Luis Scola scored a season-high 23 points to lead the Pacers.

• Harden nets 41, Westbrook 40: James Harden led a postgame dance session in the visitors’ locker room.

And why not? He scored 41 points, and Houston overcame Russell Westbrook’s triple-double to beat Oklahoma City 115-112.

In the process, Harden bested of one of his top challengers for the MVP award and silenced the fans who constantly booed him in the building where he once was beloved. The former Thunder star scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to give his team a cushion.

Harden and Westbrook, the league’s top two scorers, both entered the game averaging 27.5 points. Harden made 12 of 22 shots and 6 of 9 3-pointers before fouling out with 33 seconds left. The Rockets hung on to win for the seventh time in eight games.

Westbrook finished with 40 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds for his 11th triple-double of the season and the 18th of his career. Enes Kanter added 21 points and 17 rebounds for the Thunder, who lost their third straight. Their lead over New Orleans for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference was cut to a half-game.

Harden maintained his miniscule lead over Westbrook in the race for the scoring title. The Rockets star now has scored 2,104 points in 76 games for an average of 27.684 points per game. Westbrook has scored 1,715 points in 62 games for an average of 27.661.

• Spurs snap Warriors’ streak: Kawhi Leonard matched his career high with 26 points and set a career high with seven steals and the San Antonio Spurs rolled past Golden State 107-92, snapping the Warriors’ 12-game winning streak while extending their own to seven straight. San Antonio also extended its home winning streak over Golden State to 32 straight.

• James has triple-double: LeBron James recorded his first triple-double since coming home, and Cleveland made 16 3-pointers while winning its 18th straight home game, 99-94 over Chicago. J.R. Smith made eight 3s, Kyrie Irving casually dropped one from 52 feet and scored 27.

Senators lose in SO but get critical point

NHL: Peter Holland scored the winning goal in the seventh round of the shootout to lift Toronto to a 3-2 victory over visiting Ottawa.

Joffrey Lupul and James van Riemsdyk scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs, and Jonathan Bernier had 43 saves through overtime.

Erik Karlsson and rookie Mark Stone scored for Ottawa, and Andrew Hammond finished with 36 saves – including 21 in the first period.

Mika Zibanejad scored in the first round of the shootout for Ottawa, and Lupul tied it in the second. Neither team broke through again until Holland’s game-winner.

Despite the loss, the Senators picked up a valuable point, pulling two behind Detroit, Boston and Pittsburgh – who are tied for the last three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference with three games left for each.

This was the Senators’ fourth straight game to reach overtime.

• Flyers get Pens reeling: At Philadelphia, Steve Mason made 46 saves, and the Flyers scored on 3 of 4 power-play opportunities to defeat Pittsburgh 4-1.

The Penguins have dropped 10 of their last 13 games and suddenly face the prospect of playing for a postseason spot Tuesday in Ottawa.

Philadelphia, which is eliminated from playoff contention, completed a season sweep of its in-state rival.

• Caps clip Wings: Mike Green had a goal and an assist, and Washington won 2-1 at Detroit, putting the Red Wings in an anxious spot as they try to extend their streak of postseason appearances to 24.

Ronaldo scores five in 9-1 win over Granada

SOCCER: Cristiano Ronaldo scored five goals in a game for the first time, powering Real Madrid to a 9-1 romp over Granada in Barcelona and keeping the pressure on Spanish league leader Barcelona.

Ronaldo followed Gareth Bale’s opening score with three goals during an eight-minute span to decide the match before halftime.

“What more can be said?” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti asked.

Madrid hadn’t scored nine goals in a league match in 47 years. Its biggest league victory remains an 11-2 thrashing of Elche in 1960.

“This is the biggest blow I have ever had, either as a player or a coach,” Granada manager Abel Resino said.

Ronaldo has 47 goals in 41 games in all competitions this season. His outburst moved him ahead of Lionel Messi in their duel for the league scoring lead. He has 36 goals to the Barcelona forward’s 32.