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Suns’ Hill to play in Game 3 vs. Spurs
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Grant Hill is going to play tonight. And this time, he's not even a game-time decision.
Hill said he won’t start Game 3 against the Spurs at US Airways Center -- Leandro Barbosa is expected to get the call at shooting guard -- but after taking part in the morning shootaround, he feels better than he has at any point during the playoffs and wants to play.
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Suns coach Mike D'Antoni said he was convinced after Hill went through some jumping and cutting drills that he hasn't been able to do in practice over the last week and reported that he felt good doing it.
"He went through some pretty hard stuff today, stuff the other day (before Game 2) that he didn't even try," D'Antoni said. "He looked good. So he's going to play.
"He might have to go back into the back and warm up and do what he has to do (before coming in)," D'Antoni said. "The last game, he wasn't ready to go at all. We'll play him, and if he can only go one stint, it's only one stint. The other guys will be ready to go."
Hill didn't want to talk about his medical situation much after practice, but said "I'll be ready. I'll be coming off the bench. I anticipate being a lot more productive than I was in those first two games."
Hill had an MRI on Thursday morning which showed no muscle tears, only inflammation in the groin and abdomen area that was suspected all along. That may have put to rest some fears that Hill was making the injury worse by playing. Now it is just an issue of dealing with the pain.
Hill got some more good news Friday when he was named the recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award. Hill, who also took home the award in 2004-05, is the league’s first multiple winner.
The NBA will donate $25,000 on behalf of Hill to HopeKids, a non-profit organization based out of Phoenix which provides ongoing events and activities along with a support community for children with cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions to send the message that hope can be a powerful medicine.
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