Indy native George Hill is questionable to play Sunday night in Game 4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first-round series against his hometown Pacers due to back spasms.
Hill, 31, was at morning shootaround but did not speak to reporters. He went right to the visitor’s locker room, presumably for treatment — which will continue throughout the day.
Hill underwent an MRI on his back Saturday. The Cavs routinely get MRIs, I’m told, and this one confirmed that no structural damage was done.
If their starting point guard cannot go, Jose Calderon will start. But coach Ty Lue insisted that he wants Hill out there. “If he can play, George is starting.”
One option for coach Lue would be having LeBron James run the point. The ball is already in his hands the majority of the time, but coach Lue would rather another player be responsible for that to begin the game “because I don’t want LeBron to have to do everything. Have to handle the ball, make the plays. It will be stretch when LeBron will be playing the point — we know that for sure — but not to start the game.”
Also, center Tristan Thompson will likely get some minutes in Game 4. He played two minutes in the opening game of the series, but has not seen the court since.
“I think Tristan can also give us extra possessions in offensive rebounding. He brings toughness, and that’s been a problem the last couple of games. We’ll see.”
Game 4 will be a late one, not tipping off until after 8:30 pm ET on FOX Sports Indiana and TNT. The Pacers own a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.