The Cavs looked invincible in the first round Heat series. Asserting their dominance, they pulled off the most lopsided playoffs sweep in NBA history – A 122-point margin over four games. That included a 55-point blowout win in the final encounter. Sure enough, everyone expected them to continue this momentum on Sunday in the East Semis opener against the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton and Co. however, had other plans!
In one of the biggest upsets so far, the Pacers came into the Cavs’ arena and blew them out to steal Game 1 on the road. A major reason behind the Cleveland team’s loss was the absence of Darius Garland. Well, the superstar guard has been out for quite some time dealing with a sprained left big toe. He missed the final two games of the previous series. But frankly, the Cavs did not need him against the lackluster Heat squad. However, the Pacers are a different story altogether.
On Sunday, Garland missed his third straight game because of the lingering injury and his team struggled without him. Of course, Darius is one of their primary scorers and playmakers, who averaged 20.6 points and nearly seven assists during the regular season. Even in the first two games that he played against the Heat, he averaged 24 points and seven assists. So, the Cavs could have used his diverse skillset against the Pacers in Game 1. Obviously, fans are now worried about his availability for tonight.
Turns out, Garland is listed as questionable on the Cavs’ injury report because of the toe sprain. That means he might not suit up for tonight’s crucial encounter. According to Jared Greenberg’s report during Sunday’s game, “Garland continues to battle significant swelling and pain. He will remain day-to-day and could play in Game 2 on Tuesday… He feels confident he will be able to play Tuesday. However, if this was the regular season, Garland would likely be shut down for another week to two weeks.” His final status will be announced before tip-off. Unfortunately, the Cavs’ problems don’t end there.
Two key players join Darius Garland on the injury report as Kenny Atkinson addresses Cavs star’s health
After watching his team lose at home, Garland is desperately hoping to suit up tonight. But Kenny Atkinson made it clear on Sunday that they do not want to rush his return, “I know he’s desperate to play. We need his speed and shot-making. I mean, he’s an All-Star. We’ll check him tomorrow, and I’ll check in with him, see where he is… He’s hurting. We just have to see if he can figure it out, if we can figure it out—just get him going. We don’t want them out there at 60%, 50%, not with the way they’re pressuring the ball. It just doesn’t make sense.” Yes, the playoffs are long and the Cavs do not want to put Garland’s health at risk.
Dec 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) reacts after a play during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
The good news is, he participated in light practice on Monday. So, he could get cleared to play tonight if things go right. Meanwhile, two other players’ availability is also in question. One is Evan Mobley, who tweaked his left ankle in Game 1. He is also listed as questionable for tonight. Of course, his absence would be a massive blow to the team because Mobley is their defensive anchor, who had a 20-point double-double on Sunday.
Another major concern is De’Andre Hunter’s health. He too is listed as questionable after dislocating his finger during the series opener. That means another big man could be out for the Cavs. This puts them in a tough spot heading into tonight’s game as another loss at home will put their season in serious jeopardy. So, Cavs fans would be praying for Garland, Mobley, and Hunter’s return, which will boost their chances of beating the Pacers and bringing the series back to level terms.
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