Heat’s Goran Dragic listed as active for Game 6 of 2020 NBA Finals

Goran Dragic is listed as active for Game 6.

The Miami Heat have been shorthanded for most of the 2020 NBA Finals, scratching and clawing their way to Game 6 after another tremendous performance from Jimmy Butler got them a win in a do-or-die Game 5.

The Los Angeles Lakers are one win away from their 17th championship in franchise history, but the Heat are going to make them work for it. After missing half of Game 1 and all of Games 2, 3, 4 and 5 with a left plantar fascia tear, Goran Dragic is making his return to the court Sunday night.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the Heat point guard is listed as active for Game 6.

Goran Dragic could help extend the NBA Finals to Game 7

Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that Dragic will not start, with Tyler Herro still getting the nod, but this is obviously great news for a Miami squad that gave everything it had in Game 5 just to stave off elimination.

Dragic has been the X-factor the Heat — and this series in general — badly needed. As a lead penetrator off the dribble, playmaker and Miami’s leading playoff scorer heading into this Finals matchup, he’s been sorely missed.

The question now is what kind of performance the Dragon will be able to submit with his team’s back against the wall. He clearly won’t be 100 percent, but if he can come in off the bench, put up around 10-15 points and spread the floor from 3-point range, the emotional boost of his return might be enough to coax another win out of this underdog Heat team.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, his injury won’t worsen by playing in this series; it’s just a matter of playing through the pain, which has been so extreme he’s been unable to put much pressure on his left foot. Here’s hoping one of the game’s nicest guys and ultimate warriors is able to tough it out with a long-awaited Finals performance.