D'Angelo Russell Cleared to Return from Knee Injury vs. Heat

After missing 31 games with a knee injury, D'Angelo Russell will return to the Brooklyn Nets for Friday's game against the Miami Heat. 

Per Anthony Puccio of SB Nation, Russell is available for the Nets.   

Puccio added that Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson didn't specifically mention a minutes restriction for Russell, but did talk about “integrating” the point guard back into things. 

Russell underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee after leaving the Nets' 114-106 loss against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 11 in the fourth quarter. 

Drafted No. 2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2015, Russell was traded to the Nets last June. The 21-year-old was having a breakout season before his knee injury, averaging 20.9 points, 5.7 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. 

The Nets enter Friday's game with a 16-29 record, four wins away from matching their total from the 2016-17 season.