Nate Taylor

IndyStar

A sweat-free Ian Mahinmi walked off the court Wednesday afternoon at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

However, a waiting crowd of reporters with questions about injuries and Toronto's frontcourt dominance may have drawn a bead or two of sweat from the Indiana Pacers' starting center, who was held out of practice.

Mahinmi was asked about his sprained lower back, which he sustained in Monday's loss, and if he'd be able to go for Thursday's Game 3 of the Pacers’ first round series against the Raptors. The Pacers could use every big body available to them as Jonas Valanciunas is doing his best Bill Russell impersonation, averaging 17.5 points and 17.0 rebounds so far this series.

Mahinmi explained how every player hopes to enter the postseason close to 100 percent healthy. Then he explained that for most starters in the NBA, that hope seldom becomes reality.

Unfortunately for Mahinmi, who has produced the best season of his eight-year career with the Pacers, he acknowledged that he does not expect to be close to full health again this season. If he plays Thursday – or any game thereafter – he will be doing it with a damaged body.

“It’s not the best, but it’s not my first time playing through stuff like that,” Mahinmi said of his lower back, which has nagged him the most this season. He later added: “It’s something that my body is accustomed to. I’ve dealt with it before, and it’s probably not the last time that something like that is going to happen to me.”

Dancin' Harry, the magical Pacers mascot

Mahinmi, who is listed as questionable, did his best to downplay his injury, to dissuade the idea that he could miss Thursday’s game. But if Mahinmi’s back continues to sap his athleticism – he has missed all eight of his shot attempts in the series – his inability to score and defend could significantly damage the Pacers’ chances of upsetting the Raptors.

After the Pacers’ practice, Mahinmi shared how he will prepare for Thursday’s game. He said he would exchange text messages from someone on the training staff every two hours to explain how he is feeling when outside of the arena. He also planned on doing multiple stretches throughout Wednesday night and during Thursday afternoon to alleviate the pain and soreness in his back.

Mahinmi was asked if he would receive a Cortisone shot before Thursday’s game to ensure he could play.

“I wish I could help you on that question,” he said. “No comment.”

Beyond Mahinmi’s availability, coach Frank Vogel spent much of Tuesday and Wednesday considering possible adjustments that he could make and anticipating how the Raptors would counter. Vogel said he is approaching Thursday’s game with Mahinmi in the starting lineup. If that does not happen, Vogel said Mahinmi’s absence would impact what adjustments he would implement.

“You’ll see tomorrow night,” Vogel said of any possible alterations. “Yes, certainly, we’re pondering changes.”

A logical destination for Vogel to reach could be rookie Myles Turner, who has been effective in his first two playoff games. As the backup center, Turner has shot 64 percent n the series and has recorded seven blocks.

Turner said he felt fine Wednesday after missing a portion of Monday’s game with a sore lower back when he landed awkwardly on Toronto’s Kyle Lowry. Whether he is forced to start in place of Mahinmi or play a heavy number of minutes Thursday, Turner said he has no choice but to adapt quickly, play strong defense on Valanciunas and provide energy.

Paul George agreed.

“It’s a lot of pressure on Myles,” George said of the 20-year-old rookie. “Jordan (Hill) will have to come in and play a big role. But, again, a lot of pressure is going to be on Myles, not only to do the same job that Ian has done for us, but offensively we need a low-post scoring presence, and he’s got to do it without getting in foul trouble.”

If Mahinmi is able to play Thursday, he would not surprise his teammates.

Mahinmi led the Pacers in the regular season with the number of injuries he sustained, a team-leading six different types. His lower back has bothered him since late November and has forced him to miss multiple games. He has also played through a sore left knee, a sore left heel, a sore left ankle and a forehead laceration that required eight stitches.

After each injury, Mahinmi continued to play on, and he averaged 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds, both career highs, in 71 games. After another setback with his lower back, Mahinmi plans to do it again Thursday against the Raptors.

“I’ll be fine, I’ll be fine,” he said. “I have nothing left to say. It’s playoff time. I’ll be fine.”

Call IndyStar reporter Nate Taylor at (317) 444-6484. Follow him on Twitter: @ByNateTaylor.

Pacers at Raptors, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Fox Sports Indiana, NBATV

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Potential start times for Pacers-Raptors Game 5