Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger out with an ankle injury – NBA Playoff Update
Indiana Pacers’ best scoring option and team leader Danny Granger left the game – 5 of the second round series against the Miami heat due to an ankle sprain early in the second half and took no further part in the game.
The consequences of Granger being not on the floor were clearly eminent as the Heat quickly turned the game into a riot and scorched the Pacers to take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference Semi Finals.
Granger first twisted his ankle in front of the Miami bench with only 3 minutes remaining in the first half, while coming down awkwardly on LeBron James foot.
He immediately left the game to get the ankle taped up. As Granger departed the floor, Miami made the best of this opportunity. James, who no longer had Granger in his face, completely took over the game in that span and helped
the Heat, put together an 8-2 run. The run was started by James connecting from beyond the arc and was finished with him making an end to end play to give Miami a 9 point lead at the halfway stage, 49-40.
Granger returned in the second half, however his movement did not look very good and his insertion back into the game only lasted around three minutes. The final blow came when in an effort to foul James by catching his shirt;
he turned his ankle over again.
The small forward left the game immediately and took no part in the game. There is no word yet as to how much damage has been done to the ankle and there is no confirmed time period announced for his recovery.
The Pacers have been struggling to hold the Heat in the last two games and if Granger fails to recover in time for Game-6, Frank Vogel’ team will be not only be deprived of a reliable scoring option, but will also enter their home
court without their floor marshal and a defensive stalwart. Throughout the series, Granger has been one man, able to get on the nerves of Wade and LeBron, with the latter calling Granger’s antics and fouls as ‘stupid’ before Game 5.
Indiana will host the Game -6 of this series on Thursday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, and if they are to have any chance of taking this series to seven games, Granger’s availability is going to be paramount.
Tags: