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Hornets' Al Jefferson could return next week

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

The surging Charlotte Hornets could welcome back injured center Al Jefferson a lot quicker than expected. 

Jefferson, who has missed the team's last eight games with a groin injury, said he could return as early as Wednesday's game against the Miami Heat, the team announced Friday. The big man was originally supposed to be sidelined for at least four weeks after straining the adductor muscle in his left groin at the end of December. 

"If everything continues to go well I'll be ready to play by Wednesday," Jefferson said, according to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer

Charlotte, mired in trade rumors centered around struggling guard Lance Stephenson, has won five of its last six games and gone 5-3 since Jefferson was forced out of action. 

Jefferson is averaging 18 points and a team-leading 8.2 rebounds in 32 games. 

Getting Jefferson back would be a huge boost to a disappointing Hornets team that remains in the playoff picture thanks to the inferior Eastern Conference. Charlotte enters Friday trailing the Brooklyn Nets, who reportedly backed out of a three-way trade with the Hornets and Oklahoma City Thunder based on an unwillingness to take on Stephenson, by 1.5 games for the No. 8 seed. 

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