CHICAGO -- Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will be a game-time decision against the Miami Heat Wednesday, and Luol Deng will return after missing two games.
Rose is bothered by a sore groin and did not participate in shootaround Wednesday morning. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said there are no residual effects from a minor car accident Rose was involved in on Tuesday afternoon.
If Rose can't play, the Bulls at least will have one more healthy guard available after signing veteran Mike James to another 10-day contract.
C.J. Watson, who has been sidelined with a sprained left ankle, is a game-time decision. Guard Richard Hamilton (shoulder) will not play.
Rose took a hard foul during Monday night's win over the New York Knicks, but Thibodeau didn't sound too concerned Tuesday.
"Wear and tear," Thibodeau said. "Hopefully the rest will do him good."
Rose already has missed 10 games this season because of turf toe and back issues.
Deng missed wins over the Utah Jazz on Saturday and the Knicks on Monday because of ongoing issues with a torn ligament in his left wrist.
The Bulls enter Wednesday's game on a five-game losing streak against the Heat, who won four straight in the Eastern Conference finals and beat Chicago in January their only regular-season meeting. The skid comes after the Bulls won four straight against the Heat with three victories in the 2010-11 regular season and a win in Game 1 of the East finals.
"It's been a strange series altogether," Thibodeau said. "They won five in a row, we won four in a row. All the games have been close, so that's the way it is. But those games have nothing to do with tonight's game. We've just got to be ready to go."
James appeared in seven games with the Bulls this season, averaging 6.1 points and 3.6 assists in 12.4 minutes a game. This is his third stint with the Bulls after signing with them Jan. 11 and again Feb. 14.
Nick Friedell is the Chicago Bulls beat reporter for ESPNChicago.com and ESPN 1000. He joined the staff in April of 2009 after serving as an editor and contributor for Yahoo! Sports.
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