RICK CARLISLE: Tyrese will play. He was tested at 5 p.m. He was strength tested at 5 p.m. and did very well. Went through walkthrough. There's no set minutes limit. We will watch and monitor things very closely from the beginning of the game through the entirety of the game. We'll go from there.
Q. What all has he had to do over the last 36 hours to get ready for this? What was he able to do in walk-through?
RICK CARLISLE: I told you everything I'm going to tell you about it. He went through walkthrough. He walked through stuff yesterday. We've had walkthroughs the last two days.
But that's where things are. He's going to play. That's it, yeah.
Q. I appreciate the honesty, the transparency. A lot of coaches don't do that. Why are you sitting up there telling us now? You could have kicked the can down the road.
RICK CARLISLE: What's the point? I mean, this time of year playing games isn't going to get you anywhere. We got a job to do tonight. We've got to get ready to battle a team that has been the best team in the league all year long. It's a tough game. It's an elimination game. There's a lot going on.
In my mind, it's best to be decisive and truthful and get down to it.
Q. When you look at what RayJ Dennis and Enrique Freeman, Quenton Jackson, what do those two-way guys help you with at this point in the season?
RICK CARLISLE: They've been tremendous for us all year long. They're all such upbeat, hard-working guys, so grateful, appreciative. This time of year, they have an important job because they have to learn the scout stuff, they have to do it at the right pace and tempo. We need them to simulate without running through our guys, that kind of thing.
They've been great. All three of them had great years with the Mad Ants, too.
Q. This would matter more if something happens with Tyrese and he can't play in the second half. What is the importance or is it important to keep T.J. in that second unit? The impact that he makes, but is it more so if you can limit him to that 19- to 22-minute range?
RICK CARLISLE: Everything is on it is table as far as minutes. We're down to a two-game season. With two days in between. Tonight, everything is out there. So, we'll be watching everything very closely.
It's been important for him to play off the bench for us because we already have two point guards starting, so that makes sense. It balances out our rotation.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports