Heat's Deng to return after 6-game absence, come off bench vs. Hornets

The Miami Heat will have Luol Deng in the lineup Wednesday night for the first time since Nov. 23.

The 30-year-old swingman, who's missed the past six games with a left hamstring strain, will come off the bench when the Heat take on the Charlotte Hornets in a Southwest Division clash. Miami leads Charlotte by a half-game for the division lead.

"I think I can manage his minutes a little more seamlessly from (the bench)," said Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. "He will probably play six-to-seven-minute stretches."

In his second season in Miami, Deng is averaging 10.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, all of which would be career lows for the two-time All-Star. The Heat went 3-3 with him out of the lineup, compared to 9-4 in games he's played, but overall they've been 5.1 points per 100 possessions better with him on the bench.

Gerald Green will maintain his spot in the Heat's starting lineup, where he's averaged 12.7 points per game.