Nuggets' Hickson eligible to return after serving 5-game suspension

J.J. Hickson has completed serving his suspension and is eligible to return to the Denver Nuggets' lineup for Sunday's game against the Portland Trail Blazers. 

Hickson was suspended in September for five games without pay for violating the terms of the NBA's anti-doping program. 

The power forward was originally supposed to be sidelined until January after tearing his ACL during a game last March, but logged some minutes in the preseason and appears ready to make a return. 

Hickson averaged 11.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 69 games last season, his first year with the Nuggets.