The St. John’s Edge were expectantly hopeful they would have Glen Davis back in their lineup for tonight’s Game 4 of the National Basketball League of Canada final at Mile One Centre and as it turns out, the big man they called “Big Baby” has been cleared to play in what is a must-win matchup for the Edge.
But it turns it’s a case of twins on the good news/good health front for St. John’s. The team has reactivated Shaquille Keith from injured reserve and announced he will also dress for tonight’s contest.
The Moncton Magic lead the Edge 3-0 in the best-of-seven series and will be looking to complete the sweep tonight (7 p.m. tip-off).
Davis, who is St. John’s leading scorer in the playoffs, missed the opening game of the final with a concussion, played Game 2 in Moncton, but suffered an ankle injury in the fourth quarter and was sidelined for a 103-93 loss Sunday afternoon at Mile One Centre.
St. John’s, which has been beset by injuries during the playoffs, was able to use just eight players in Sunday’s contest, but Davis practised Wednesday and emerged from that workout with his damaged “foot feeling a lot better” according to head coach Steve Marcus.
But while there was always a decent chance Davis would play in Game 4, the news Keith was being activated came as a bit of surprise. The Canadian swingman had suffered a broken foot just over five weeks ago in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series with the Sudbury Five and the thought was that he was done for the rest of the season.
But after receiving medical treatment in Toronto, Keith has apparently recovered much quicker than expected. After discussions involving Keith, his doctors in Toronto and the Edge medical team in St. John’s, he’s being brought back to bolster what has been a badly battered Edge bench.
It’s the second case of a player who was thought to have been done for the season returning to action for St. John’s. Fellow Canadian Junior Cadougan had suffered a torn pelvic muscle during series against Sudbury, but although Cadougan still far from fully recovered, he was added to the lineup for Game 3, where he played 15 minutes.
Marcus said Cadougan will again be monitored in terms of playing time tonight, although he could see a little bit more action. You can expect Keith will restricted as well, although any help he can provide the Edge is more than welcome at this point.
