Heat's Norris Cole returning from 2-game absence Tuesday

The Miami Heat will get a little help back at the guard position on Tuesday when they take on the Golden State Warriors.

While Dwyane Wade remains sidelined with a hamstring issue, point guard Norris Cole will make his return after a two-game absence due to a dislocated finger. Cole's absence, in concert with Wade's, had forced the Heat to use a Mario Chalmers-Shannon Brown starting frontcourt - one they obviously didn't love, considering Brown was released on Monday.

Cole will slide back in as the team's starting point guard, bumping Chalmers to the two with Wade out.

In 12 games this season, Cole is averaging 7.4 points and 3.5 assists in 23.8 minutes, shooting 36.4 percent from long range. He had picked his play up some in Wade's absence before suffering the finger injury on Thursday, slowing his momentum.

Despite his decent shooting, the Heat have been better off with Cole on the bench so far this season: while the offense has been 3.6 points per-100 possessions better with him, the team's defense has collapsed when Cole hits the floor. Lineups with Chalmers or Shabazz Napier have proven more effective, and the Heat could lean more on the younger Napier if that holds true as the season progresses.