In an injury-filled series, the Toronto Raptors announced forward DeMarre Carroll is questionable for Friday night’s Game 6 against the Miami Heat.
Carroll left Wednesday’s game with a left wrist contusion he sustained in the third quarter. Carroll is averaging 11.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals in the series. The Raptors said he will be treated and evaluated before the tip-off at AmericanAirlines Arena.
“My wrist is great,” Carroll told reporters Thursday. “It’s all right. It’s one of those things. I got positive feedback from the MRI, from the X-ray. If it ain’t broke, with me, I’m ready to play.”
The Raptors are already without starting center Jonas Valanciunas, who was ruled out after spraining an ankle in the third quarter of Game 2. Leading scorer DeMar DeRozan is also battling a nagging sore right thumb that has affected his play. He is shooting just 38 percent in the series, but had a game-high 34 points in Game 5.
The Raptors lead the series 3-2, with a chance to close out on the Heat’s home court. Miami rallied from the same deficit against the Charlotte Hornets in the first round, but forward Luol Deng could be limited Friday. He left Wednesday’s game with a wrist injury and the team is awaiting the results of an MRI to determine his playing status.
The Heat already have been without 7-foot center Hassan Whiteside, who is sidelined with a sprained medical collateral ligament in his right knee. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said Whiteside continues to receive therapy on his knee, but would not say whether Whiteside is any closer to returning.
The Heat are attempting to become the first team in NBA history to overcome two 3-2 deficits in the same postseason.
The Heat have won five straight home games when facing elimination.
Toronto can clinch its first conference finals berth with a win on Friday.
The winner of this series advances to play the Cleveland Cavaliers, who are 8-0 in the postseason, in the Eastern Conference finals.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.