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Heat's Deng remains out vs. Cavaliers with hamstring injury

Ken Blaze / USA TODAY Sports

Miami Heat forward Luol Deng will not play against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, the team confirmed.

The 12-year veteran has missed the last four games due to a hamstring injury.

The Heat have a 2-2 record in Deng's absence, sorely missing his 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 0.9 steals, as well as his ability to spread the floor (shooting 32.7 percent from 3-point territory) and defend opponents' marquee small forwards.

With "The Man from Sudan" out of the lineup, Gerald Green - who has averaged 13.8 points in the aforementioned four-game span - will likely receive additional minutes at the three-spot.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra will need all the support he can get from his bench on Saturday, as his team faces a familiar face in LeBron James - who is coming into American Airlines Arena fresh off a 37-point performance.

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