Turner cleared to play for Pacers

The Indiana Pacers enter Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night with a little more depth.

Guard-forward Evan Turner will be available after sitting out the series opener because of strep throat.

Turner, acquired during the season from the Philadelphia 76ers, practiced with the Pacers on Monday and participated in the shootaround on Tuesday morning in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Pacers lead the series 1-0 after Sunday’s opening 107-96 win in Indianapolis. Rasual Butler took Turner’s place in the bench rotation in that game.

Turner has yet to make a major impact in the playoffs, averaging just 3.5 points in 13 postseason games.

“I think I’ve been doing pretty well,” Turner said, according to The Indianapolis Star. “Obviously, everybody judges me on numbers, but this isn’t a numbers situation. When I come in, I try to rebound, I try to play defense. I pass the ball.

“I feel like every game I usually come out of in those few minutes I lead the team in assists. So, I mean, I just try to play with the flow of the game. Play the best possible way.

“My stats are (not) like the draft pick I was or where people think I should be at, obviously. But I just play the game the way I play the game and I try to do what fits. I feel like I’ve been playing pretty well.”