Eric Bledsoe will return to Suns on Wednesday, come off the bench

"Yes, (Eric Bledsoe) is playing," Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek told reporters on Wednesday.

And away goes any remaining worry that the point guard's return could be pushed back ahead of Wednesday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

Bledsoe is back, and he'll come off the bench for the time being.

The fourth-year guard has been out of the lineup since Dec. 30 and underwent surgery on Jan. 10 to remove part of a torn meniscus. The surprising Suns have continued to defy the odds without him, staying afloat at 17-16 while Bledsoe recovered.

As good as that was, it hasn't quite been good enough - the Suns now find themselves in ninth in the Western Conference at 36-27, one game back of Dallas for the final West playoff spot. Bledsoe's return couldn't come at a better time, in other words.

Goran Dragic has thrived as the team's lone point guard and is averaging 20.6 points and 6.2 assists on the season. Gerald Green has filled in as the other starting guard, himself enjoying a breakout year with 15.7 points a night.

Still, Bledsoe's been missed, and it's fair to suggest he'll be back in the starting lineup before long. In 24 games before the surgery, Bledsoe was averaging 18 points, 4.3 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.5 steals, and the team's defense has been 2.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the floor.