Danny Granger Will Play In Game 6 Vs. Heat Despite Ankle Sprain

Danny Granger Injury Update: Pacers' Forward Will Play Through Pain In Game 6

With his Indiana Pacers facing elimination, Danny Granger will fight through the pain and play in Game 6 against the Miami Heat on Thursday night, coach Frank Vogel confirmed. Granger suffered a sprained ankle in the Pacers' Game 5 loss on Tuesday night and was spotted in a walking boot, but will play nonetheless.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel said Danny Granger (sprained ankle) will go in Game 6 tonight vs. Heat.

— Jeff Zillgitt (@usat_jzillgitt) May 24, 2012

Granger has struggled thus far in the series, averaging just 13 points a game on 37 percent shooting, but his presence is still vital to a Pacers offense that fell apart in Game 5 once he left the game. At the very least, he is needed to occupy help defenders and make life easier for David West and Roy Hibbert.

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Danny Granger Injury Update: Pacers Star Won't Return After Aggravating Sprained Ankle

Danny Granger's return to the lineup after suffering a sprained ankle late in the first half of Game 5 of the Pacers' 2012 NBA Playoffs second-round series against the Miami Heat was short-lived. Granger came down again on LeBron James, this time while trying to dribble by him early in the third quarter, and he will not return, the Pacers announced.

Granger was trying to dribble the ball down the floor when he ran into James. He immediately came up limping, hopping on one leg to the sidelines by the Heat bench. After staying down for a few minutes, he eventually went back to the locker room. A few minutes later, the Pacers announced he would not return.

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Danny Granger Injury: Indiana Pacers Forward's Return Questionable With Sprained Ankle

The Indiana Pacers' chances of defeating the Miami Heat in Game 5 of their 2012 NBA Playoffs series just took a hit. Star forward Danny Granger has suffered an apparent ankle injury late in the second quarter, and he was taken back to the locker room to be treated. The Pacers say Granger is questionable to return to the game.

Granger suffered the injury shooting a three-pointer from the left wing. He was guarded very closely by LeBron James and, because of that, he stepped on James' foot as he landed. He then spent the duration of the Heat's possession on the ground in pain. The Pacers eventually called timeout to get Granger out of the game.

For more information on the Miami Heat, check out Peninsula Is Mightier and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Indiana Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows and SB Nation Indiana.