Miami Heat’s Goran Dragic active for Game 6 of NBA Finals

LAKE BUENA VISTA — Goran Dragic checked in for the Miami Heat at the end of the first quarter of Game 6 of the NBA Finals, his first appearance on the court since tearing the plantar fascia in his left foot in Game 1.

Dragic was listed as active before Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Lakers after being listed as doubtful on Saturday.

Dragic was determined to find a way to play in the series, and a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Dragic’s injury can’t worsen by playing. However, the pain has been extreme and he hadn’t been able to put much pressure on the foot, Wojnarowski reported.

Dragic attempted to warm up ahead of Game 4, but sources said that the pain he experienced attempting to get down in a defensive stance proved to be too much and he subsequently was ruled out.

Even though Dragic has not played in the past four games, coach Erik Spoelstra said that he has stayed “incredibly involved.”

“You have to notice on the bench what kind of leader he is,” Spoelstra said. “He wants to be out there with his heart and soul, but his body will tell him whether he can do it or not. Either way, he’s going to make an impact.”

The Heat stuck with the same starting lineup of Jimmy Butler, Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Bam Adebayo and Jae Crowder.

Dragic was a participant in the Heat’s layup lines before Sunday’s tip. As Dragic nailed a corner 3, teammate Meyers Leonard yelled: “There he is!”