Jordan J Wilson

jordan.wilson@indystar.com

Raptors at Pacers, 7 p.m. Tuesday, FSI

INDIANAPOLIS – Thaddeus Young isn’t trying to convince anyone he is 100 percent healthy. If he were, there might be a few more 3-point shots coming off his hands.

The proof is in the shot for Young, who was having a career year from behind the arc before a wrist injury sidelined the Indiana Pacers forward for eight games leading up to the NBA All-Star break.

Since he has returned, Young has taken just six shots from deep range and made one. In only six games prior to his injury did he not take a 3-point shot, averaging just south of 40 percent.

“With Thad, that comes and goes with the pain,” Pacers coach Nate McMillan said. “He gets cracked on that and it gets pretty painful for a day or two, sometimes longer. It swells and is pretty difficult for him to shoot the ball outside of the paint, but he’s been able to play through it.”

Young accepts his latest limitations, but he also knows his teammates need him as the Pacers (37-40) look to battle their way back into the postseason after dropping four straight.

• OH SO CLOSE: Pacers fall in 2 OTs to Cavs

• LANCE IS BACK: Stephenson eager for his first home game

• AT LAST: McGinnis elected to Hall of Fame

While not the 3-point threat he was earlier in the season, Young is still very much a presence.

In each of the Pacers’ last four losses, Young has scored in double figures, including a 19-point performance in Sunday’s loss in Cleveland that marks his highest scoring outing since well before the injury on Jan. 21. He also grabbed at least eight rebounds in each of the past three games.

“You don’t think about it,” Young said of his injury. “You just try to focus at the task at hand, which is winning basketball games. Once the buzzer goes off and adrenaline starts to kick in and flow, then the pain goes away. You just try to continue to play. They may hit me in my wrist and it may hurt for a few seconds, but I’ve got to keep playing.”

Young’s grace behind the arc was something of a happy surprise early this season, even when the Pacers lost. Losing a 3-point shooter doesn’t exactly hurt the Pacers’ starting unit, though, with Paul George, Jeff Teague and C.J. Miles able to knock down deep shots.

The necessary adjustment is a slight one, and one that keeps Young useful in a role that suits his size.

“I’ve had a wrist injury during this season and I was hesitant a lot of the times to shoot the ball, shoot 3s,” George said. “It takes a toll because you’re not 100 (percent) and don’t want to jack a shot up there you don’t feel good about. But we try to get him in rolls. We try to get him opportunity in the dunker spot, low-post spot where it makes him a little easier shooting with that left hand.”

Young concedes focusing on the “aggressive nature” of his role allows him to distract from whatever pain he might feel in his wrist, even though he also said whatever contact opposing players have made with his wrist was unintentional.

No one is expecting Young to suddenly re-emerge as a 3-point threat down the stretch, especially him. A stretch of games with his wrist feeling better doesn’t mean things can change.

Sticking to his role, chipping away in the paint, is exactly what the Pacers need to stay alive.

“We’re fighting for our lives,” Young said. “Every one counts, so guys are ready, guys are going hard and guys are prepared to go out there and go to battle.”

Follow IndyStar reporter Jordan J. Wilson on Twitter: @Wilsonable07.

TORONTO RAPTORS (47-30) at INDIANA PACERS (37-40)

Tipoff: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Bankers Life Fieldhouse

TV: Fox Sports Indiana.

Radio: WFNI-AM (1070), -FM (107.5).

Three things to watch:

>> The Indiana Pacers officially welcomed back Lance Stephenson in Sunday’s 135-130 double overtime loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, signing him to a three-year deal on Thursday in an attempt to pump some last-ditch life into a beaten-up roster. Stephenson scored four points, grabbed three rebounds and dished out three assists in 18 minutes against the Cavaliers, but his real impact was felt on the bench. At Monday’s practice, Paul George talked about the energy Stephenson brought.

>> The Toronto Raptors come to town just four days after dealing the Pacers a 111-100 loss and have won eight of their last nine games after downing Philadelphia at home Sunday night — and they have been doing it all without three-time All-Star Kyle Lowry. Late in the season, they have evolved into and become more of a passing team than earlier this season. The Raptors might average just 18.1 assists per game (last in the NBA), but the No. 3 team in the East has dished out at least 22 assists in each of their last five.

>> The Pacers’ performance in Cleveland showed flashes of conference-contending team many thought was being built i last summer, but the problem with the Pacers all season has been playing like that consistently. The Pacers need another performance like that against Toronto at home if they want to bump themselves back into the postseason. Gotta think they will, at least for one night. Pacers 110, Raptors 103

— Jordan J. Wilson