Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich returned to the hardwood on Monday to face the Portland Trail Blazers, two months removed from having surgery on his right thumb.
The 28-year-old Hinrich suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his thumb in the third quarter of a November 7 contest against Phoenix. He had surgery four days later and was expected to be sidelined up to three months.
Prior to Monday, Hinrich had appeared in just six games, missing 31 due to the injury, and is averaging 8.3 points, 4.0 assists and 1.8 rebounds on the year.
In his sixth NBA season, all with the Bulls, Hinrich has appeared in 395 regular season games, missing only 21 before the injury. A first-round draft pick in 2003, he is averaging 14.3 points, 6.3 assists and 3.5 rebounds a game.
Bulls forward Luol Deng, who missed the past eight games with a sprained left ankle, also returned to the lineup on Monday.
Deng is averaging 13.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in 26 games for Chicago and suffered the injury December 26 in a loss to Miami when he rolled his left foot after going up for a rebound.
