Trailing the Indiana Pacers 2-0 in their opening-round playoff series, the Cleveland Cavaliers are set to receive significant reinforcements. All-Star guard Darius Garland, who has been sidelined since the series began with a sprained left big toe, is reportedly expected to play. He will be joined by All-Star big man Evan Mobley, recovering from a sprained left ankle, and reserve forward De`Andre Hunter, dealing with a sprained right thumb. Both Mobley and Hunter missed Game 2 after sustaining injuries in the first game. All three players are anticipated to make their return for Game 3 on Friday night, according to reports.
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson expressed cautious optimism on Thursday regarding their potential return, and it appears that hope is materializing.
“They all touched the ball,” Coach Atkinson shared with reporters after practice. “They all got some reps up. But we didn`t do anything live. They kind of participated in the walkthrough. Hoping for the best.”
Sources indicate that Hunter`s thumb swelling has decreased, as reported by Joe Vardon of The Athletic. However, Garland and Mobley were reportedly moving as if still managing discomfort from lower leg injuries.
Notably, Cleveland`s star Donovan Mitchell, who delivered a remarkable 48-point performance in Game 2 despite playing through a calf strain, is not listed on the team`s official injury report.
Atkinson mentioned Garland`s strong desire to rejoin the team on the court but stressed that his availability hinges on the condition of his toe.
“I support him 100%, whichever way it goes,” Atkinson stated. “I think he`s probably feeling, `Listen, I got to get it to a certain point where I can compete at a high-intensity playoff level.` The hard thing for us is we can`t really simulate that.”
The Cavaliers suffered a frustrating defeat in Game 2, squandering a substantial 20-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Pacers closed the game on an 8-0 run in the final 48 seconds to snatch a 120-119 victory. The dramatic finish saw Tyrese Haliburton rebound his own missed free throw and sink a stepback three-pointer with just one second remaining. Following the game, the NBA`s Last Two Minutes Report highlighted that Indiana should have been called for two lane violations during the critical final moments, one occurring during Haliburton`s rebound and another preceding Aaron Nesmith`s putback dunk that initiated the Pacers` closing run.
Despite a successful regular season that saw Cleveland win 64 games and secure the top seed in the Eastern Conference, Friday`s game holds immense importance following Tuesday`s collapse. The team intentionally managed player workloads throughout the season to minimize injury risks at this crucial time, yet they find themselves in a challenging situation.
“I think it`s frustrating for all of us,” Atkinson commented. “And it`s no indictment on anybody or the players — none of that. Injuries are a tough thing.”
Jasper Hawthorne