Brook Lopez practiced for the first time since breaking his foot on in a preseason game against the Knicks Dec. 21.

“Definitely a big benchmark ... continuing to make progress in practice to the point where [team brass] and some of the other guys think I am ready to play in a game,” said Lopez.

Lopez is hoping to return before the All-Star break.

“If it were up to me I probably would have come back two weeks ago and it would have been too early,” joked Lopez, who broke his foot in the final preseason game and has not played yet, although he senses the end to his frustration may be close. “This practice has been a huge hurdle, a huge benchmark.”