"Luol Deng worked himself into a sweaty lather before Sunday's matinee, shooting, dribbling, running.

Though he told teammates he wanted to play his first game with a torn ligament in his left wrist against the Heat, Deng sat. But his return is imminent.

"I would say he's very close," coach Tom Thibodeau said. "He's doing more and more and feels a lot better. We want to make sure he feels good about playing. He still has to take contact on it. As long as he's moving in the right direction, we're pleased with that.""