INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- As the Cleveland Cavaliers prepare for a pivotal Game 5 against the Indiana Pacers, they remain unsure whether or not they'll be taking the floor with George Hill. According to head coach Tyronn Lue, the Cavs' starting point guard is "questionable" with back spasms for the team's Wednesday matchup.
Hill initially injured his back running into a screen from Pacers forward Trevor Booker in Game 1 and proceeded to play in next two contests of the best-of-seven series. But after his back locked up in Game 3, limiting him to 9 second-half minutes, Hill was listed as questionable for Game 4 before ultimately sitting out Cleveland's 104-100 victory.
According to Yahoo Sports' Shams Charania, an MRI on Hill's back revealed "nothing major." Hill participated in some shooting at Cavs' practice on Tuesday.
In Hill's absence, Jose Calderon started at point guard for the Cavs, scoring 5 points and dishing out 2 assists in 19 minutes of action. According to Lue, should Hill be healthy enough to play on Wednesday, he'll resume his role as Cleveland's starting point guard.
After being acquired from the Sacramento Kings at the NBA trade deadline, Hill started in 24 games for the Cavs during the regular season and averaged 9.4 points and 2.8 assists to go along with a .351 shooting percentage from 3-point range. His 11 first-half points in Game 3 played a key role in the Cavs jumping out to a 57-40 halftime lead, which Cleveland ultimately squandered in the second half.
Although the Cavs went on to even the series at two games apiece without Hill in the lineup on Sunday, they'll need all the help they can get in what is effectively now a best-of-three series. Tip-off for Game 5 at Quicken Loans Arena on Wednesday is slated for 7 p.m. ET.
