Luol Deng Illness: Updates on Heat Star's Status and Return

Miami Heat veteran forward Luol Deng has an illness that kept out of the Heat's game on Jan. 21. He returned on Friday against the Pacers.

Continue for updates.

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Deng Returns vs. Pacers 

Friday, Jan. 23

The Heat provided Deng's stat line in his return vs. the Pacers:

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Deng Battles Illness

Wednesday, Jan. 21

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel has the details:

Although not quite the player he once was with the Chicago Bulls, Deng has continued to serve as a solid two-way player in his first season with the Heat. 

Injuries, however, are beginning to take their toll on the 29-year-old. He missed 19 games with a variety of issues last season and was hampered earlier this year by a hand injury. 

The Heat as a team have also struggled to stay healthy, losing Deng, Dwyane Wade, Josh McRoberts, Chris Andersen and others at various times during the season. 

"It's the NBA -- everybody has to deal with it," said Wade, via ESPN.com's Michael Wallace. "That's why we've got 15 guys on the roster. We just have to find a way to win ballgames no matter who's out there."

Should Deng be forced to miss more time with this illness, rookie James Ennis would likely absorb most of his minutes.