Dragic ‘doubtful’ for Miami must-win NBA Finals game

Goran Dragic remains doubtful for the Miami Heat’s must-win NBA Finals game-five clash with the Los Angeles Lakers, coach Erik Spoelstra said Thursday.

Dragic, who has not played since limping out of game one with a torn plantar fascia in his left foot, is likely to miss a game that Miami must win to keep the best-of-seven series alive.

“Status is the same with Goran,” Spoelstra told reporters.

The Miami coach said there are no concerns surrounding Bam Adebayo, who returned to the line-up for game four on Tuesday after missing the previous two contests with a neck injury.

“Bam is going to be just fine tomorrow,” Spoelstra said. “I’m not getting into percentiles. His full competitive spirit will be ready to go tomorrow night.”

Spoelstra, meanwhile, struck a defiant tone when asked about the scale of the challenge confronting his team, who are bidding to become only the the second team in history to overturn a 3-1 NBA Finals deficit.

“Look, we think it’s a really competitive series,” Spoelstra said. “We have a purpose of why we’re here. We’re competing for a title, and it’s the first team to four wins. There’s a lot of different narratives out there.

“This is everything that we wanted this year, an opportunity to fight for, compete for a title, and that hasn’t changed at all through these first games.”

Spoelstra also backed his team to thrive in the win-or-go-home environment of the remaining games.

“I know the character of our group, and we are still very much committed to what our purpose is and look forward to the competition tomorrow,” Spoelstra said. “Whatever the storylines that are out there, we don’t care.

“Our guys are the ones who are out there in the arena marred by dust, blood, sweat and tears. Twenty-eight other teams aren’t out there.

“Everybody else is basically on their comfortable couches spectating on this one. Our guys are the ones that are in the arena, and that’s right where they are meant to be.” (AFP)