Mike Miller’s Miami Heat Debut Could Come Against Mavericks

Mike Miller, the Miami Heat’s designated gunner who has missed the team’s first 29 games due to a torn thumb ligament, could play on Monday against the Dallas Mavericks, reports Joseph Goodman of the Miami Herald.

The Heat signed Miller to serve as a primary shooter behind the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh triptych, ready to make opponents regret sagging down into the lane. But Miller injured his thumb in the preseason and was expected to miss two months of action.

Instead, he will return this week; if he does not play against the Mavericks, the Suns or Lakers could provide the stage for his debut. The Heat have cranked up the machine and reeled off 12 straight wins, and adding Miller can only help Miami from its perch as the fifth best offense in basketball.

The Heat have surprisingly rated as the league’s No. 2 three-point shooting efficiency team behind just San Antonio. Miami has hit 39.5 percent of its threes this season, thanks largely to excellent shooting by roleplayers Carlos Arroyo (52 percent on 1.4 attempts per game), James Jones (44 percent on 4.4 attempts) and Eddie House (40 percent on 2.6 attempts). Miller will likely take minutes from all three plus back-up point guard Mario Chalmers, as coach Erik Spoelstra won’t be afraid to allow Miller, James or Wade run the offense for stretches.

Miller is a career 40 percent three-point shooter and is No. 28 on the all-time three-pointers made list. Exiled in Minnesota and Washington the past two seasons, he signed with the Heat when the three All-Stars all agreed to take less than the league maximum in order to recruit some help.