Hornets get rookie Hairston back from ankle sprain Wednesday

The Charlotte Hornets are finally getting some wing players back.

Playing without Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Gary Neal, the Hornets will welcome rookie P.J. Hairston back to the lineup on Wednesday when they take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Hairston has been sidelined with an ankle sprain since Nov. 17, a four-game absence.

The timing of Hairston's injury was unfortunate, as he had begun to find his shooting stroke with regular playing time. In the four games before hurting his ankle, Hairston had shot 7-of-12 from long range, pushing his 3-point shooting clip on the season to 38.5 percent. In eight games, he's averaged 5.4 points in 13.9 minutes.

Hairston's return will lessen the load on Lance Stephenson and Gerald Henderson, who have been tasked with extra minutes while the wing depth has been stripped bare.