INDIANAPOLIS(AFP) - Paul George stood out in his much-anticipated return to Indiana, scoring 13 points in under 15 minutes of playing time as the Pacers routed the Miami Heat 112-89 in a National Basketball Association (NBA) league game on Sunday night.

The play-off hungry Pacers welcomed back with open arms George who missed the first 76 games of the season after breaking his right leg in August in a gruesome accident while playing for the United States national team.

"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," said George, whose arrival comes just in time for the play-off stretch run.

George was initially not expected back this NBA season. The all-star forward sped up his recovery in time to rejoin an Indiana club who are sitting one game behind Boston for the eighth and final play-off spot in the Eastern Conference.