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Thursday, April 19, 2001
Jones returns after missing 15 games
Associated Press
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MIAMI – The Miami Heat activated guard Eddie Jones before Tuesday's game against Philadelphia, giving coach Pat Riley a chance to put his best lineup on the court for the first time all
season.
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Jones missed 15 games with a dislocated left shoulder. While he
was sidelined, center Alonzo Mourning returned after missing the
first 69 games because of a kidney ailment.
With the playoffs 10 days away, the Heat are the healthiest
they've been all season.
"To have this team together – we could make a run," Jones
said. "If we're right, we're right there with anybody."
Last fall, before Mourning became ill, the Heat were widely
touted as the Eastern Conference favorites. They'll likely go into
the postseason with the No. 3 or 4 seed.
"Let's just try to make it work like we all planned from day
one," Mourning said.
Mourning has been coming off the bench since being activated,
and Riley said Jones will do the same – at least for now.
"That's a pretty good bench if you can get them in sync,"
Riley said with a smile.
Regardless of whether they start, Riley will finally have the
option of going with the lineup he envisioned when he acquired
Jones, Brian Grant and Anthony Mason in trades last offseason.
"I'm glad I'm getting everybody back," Riley said. "I'm just
going to throw them out there and play them, and let's go after
it."
Riley said Jones likely won't be 100 percent the rest of the season. But Jones said his play won't be hampered.
"I'm going to be sore, but you can deal with that," he said. "Ice can cure a lot of things."
To make room for Jones on the roster, Todd Fuller was placed on the injured list.
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