Sore-Footed Smits Making Small Strides

Rik Smits puts on his basketball shoes before he gets out of bed in the morning. It’s still too painful to walk barefooted, the Indiana Pacers center said.

With daily treatment and padded shoes, Smits should be able to continue playing.

He played 22 minutes in his first game of the season Tuesday. He practiced Wednesday and ran 15 minutes but did not practice Thursday, although he expects to play during the Pacers’ four-game trip beginning Friday in Denver.

“There was quite a bit of soreness when I came in this morning,” said Smits, who underwent surgery on both feet in September. “I have to run through it and warm up first. It feels better, but then I have to stop after a while.”

Much of Smits’ pain comes from the knots of scar tissue in both feet, although the right one hurts more than the left.