The Charlotte Hornets expect to have starting swingman Nic Batum available for Game 5 off the bench.

Clifford says @hornets Nic Batum participated in shootaround and will most likely play tonight. — Charlotte Hornets PR (@HornetsPR) April 27, 2016

"As long as he feels good after he warms up before the game, he’s going to try to play," Cifford said.

Clifford said Batum wouldn't play his normal minutes and would come off the bench.

"He wanted to try to play the other night," he said. "He was moving, cutting, planting."

Batum, a starter for the Hornets, missed Games 3 and 4 with a left foot sprain. But he told reporters after shoot around Wednesday he expects to play. He said he's asked to come off the bench.

"I told coach after the game and this morning I don’t want to mess up the way we’re playing right now," Batum said. "I asked him to come off the bench. I’m not really 100 percent yet. I’ve got to be honest with the team and the coaching staff. I just want to go out there and play as much as a I can and as effective as I can."