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Dante Exum has been on the fringe of the Utah Jazz rotation in recent days. The point guard, who averages about 21 minutes per game this season, had logged 21 minutes total, including a healthy scratch, in his team's past four games leading up to Thursday's matchup.

But with starter George Hill out of commission with a sprained big toe, Exum went from outcast to starter against the Miami Heat.

The reason? Head coach Quin Snyder doesn't want to disturb his already inconsistent second unit anymore than is he has to.

"There's value to having consistency," Snyder said.

The third-year coach has held true to that philosophy during his time in Utah. Last season, with starting power forward Derrick Favors hurt, Snyder moved Trey Lyles into the starting five to keep Trevor Booker in his spark-plug role off the bench. This year, with Lyles as the second power forward on the depth chart, Snyder has generally started Boris Diaw with Favors out.

Now, with backup point guard Shelvin Mack averaging 6.7 points and 2.5 assists in 19 minutes per game off the bench, Snyder wants to keep him in a familiar role.

"I feel like with our second group, particularly the way we are now, that scoring becomes something that's important," Snyder said. adding he believes the bench group benefits most from "Shelvin's ability to get on top of the rim and Trey's jump shot."

Exum, meanwhile, can benefit from playing alongside forward Gordon Hayward, whose playmaking and scoring should reduce the pressure on the young guard.

Injury update

After missing eight games earlier this year with a sprained right thumb, it was a left toe injury that caused Hill to miss his ninth start of the season Thursday night.

Snyder said the point guard injured his toe late in Tuesday's win over the Houston Rockets. Hill was in a protective walking boot at the team's shootaround Thursday, where his coach said there was no clear timeline for when he would return to action.

"It's tough," Snyder said. "It's like having your right thumb [injured]. Those are hard ones because you rely so much on that digit."

Shooting guard Rodney Hood was also held out of action due to a hamstring injury he suffered Tuesday.

Gordon's groove

For a week last month, Hayward looked like he had misplaced his jumper. But the Jazz's leading scorer has busted out of his mini slump, averaging 25.2 points per game and shooting better than 47 percent from the field over his last five games leading up to Thursday's meeting with the Heat.

"I'm just out there competing, not really worrying about my shot or whether it is or isn't falling," Hayward said. "Trying to be active defensively has helped me out as well."'

Twitter: @aaronfalk