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Warriors' Barnes comes off bench vs. Hornets in return from 16-game absence

Kelley L Cox / USA TODAY Sports

The shorthanded Golden State Warriors are a step closer to being whole again.

Small forward Harrison Barnes, who missed 16 games with a pesky left ankle sprain, returned to the lineup in a reserve role Monday night as the Warriors beat the Charlotte Hornets. He checked in with just over two minutes remaining in the first quarter to a standing ovation from the Oracle Arena faithful, and went on to score eight points and dish two assists in 20 minutes.

Brandon Rush, who jumped into the starting five for every game during Barnes' absence, started again Monday.

Barnes went down 17 games into Golden State's season-opening 24-game win streak. They continued to roll without him, going 14-2, but slowed recently with Steph Curry, Festus Ezeli, and Leandro Barbosa joining Barnes on the injury list. Their last three games have featured a blowout loss at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks, and squeakers over the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

Barnes has lingered on the shelf for longer than expected, having been given at least a slight chance of returning to the court as early as Christmas Day.

The fourth-year swingman, who will be a restricted free agent at season's end, was off to a career-best start before the injury, averaging 13.4 points and five rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3-point range.

The Warriors outscored opponents by 17.3 points per 100 possessions with him on the floor, and have been 7.4 points per 100 possessions worse with him on the bench - though that's overstated by the team's coinciding injury woes.

Curry was also back in the lineup against the Hornets.

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