DeMarre Carroll went to hospital for tests on his left wrist after the Raptors took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series with a 99-91 win Wednesday night.Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press
Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll has played through pain before this season.
He's not about to stop now that the team is a win away from the Eastern Conference final.
Carroll, who's listed as questionable for Game 6 against Miami with a left wrist injury, seemed very confident that he'll be back in the lineup Friday night against the Heat.
"I will have a lot of say," he said. "Let's put it that way."
The Raptors have a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinal. Another victory would see them reach the NBA's final four for the first time in the franchise's 21-year history.
Carroll has battled knee problems this season and missed three months of action after undergoing arthroscopic surgery last January. He has rounded into form nicely since his return and has averaged 9.7 points, 4.1 rebounds and 31.5 minutes a game in the post-season.
Speaking to reporters Thursday at the team's practice facility, Carroll said he initially thought he broke a bone when he landed awkwardly on the court after getting tangled up with a Miami player in Toronto's 99-91 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night. X-rays were negative and the injury is officially described as a contusion.
"If it ain't broke, with me, I'm ready to play," said Carroll, who had a support on his injured wrist.
Carroll added that his wrist went numb for a few minutes after the fall and now he's just battling soreness. Regular treatment is planned for Thursday and Friday.
"It's all about how I can tolerate my pain," he said. "But I'm not a junkyard dog for nothing, right? So we'll see what happens."
Toronto also had a 3-2 lead in its first-round series against Indiana. The Raptors lost Game 6 on the road before closing out the seven-game series at home.
Toronto has a 2-5 all-time record in possible series-clinching games.
"This is that time of year," said Raptors coach Dwane Casey. "You better come out with your guns loaded and ready to go."
The first five games of the series have been quite physical and several players are banged up on both sides. Toronto has already lost centre Jonas Valanciunas (ankle) for the series and can ill afford the loss of another key player.
Carroll, who injured the wrist on his non-shooting hand, has been a key factor at both ends of the floor. His defensive play on Miami star Dwyane Wade has been impressive.
"You can't make excuses," Carroll said. "You're in the NBA for a reason. We get paid a lot of money for a reason. So we've just got to go out there and perform."
Carroll said he has been working closely with team sport science director Alex McKechnie, who told him to take a day-by-day approach to the injury.
"Me being who I am, I'm pretty sure I'm going to fight him and play tomorrow," Carroll said.
Casey said that if the team's medical staff feels Carroll is ready to return, that he will be used as a starter in Game 6.
Game 7, if necessary, would be played Sunday afternoon at Air Canada Centre. The series winner will face the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers for a berth in the NBA Finals.
Notes: Casey said there was no update on DeMar DeRozan's sore thumb but added he'd be "ready to go" on Friday. DeRozan tied his playoff high with 34 points in Game 5. ... Toronto was 11-3 in regular-season games when both Carroll and Valanciunas weren't in the lineup. ... The Raptors are one of four active NBA teams that have never reached a conference final. The others are Charlotte, New Orleans and the Los Angeles Clippers.