Cavaliers Face Injuries Ahead of Game 2 Against Pacers
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without three key players, including All-Star Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter, for Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night, according to reports from ESPN.
The Cavaliers, who trail 1-0 in the series, will have to cope without the trio for the crucial game. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson revealed that none of the three players participated in the team’s shootaround on Tuesday morning, and they did not take part in their pregame shooting routine. As a result, Ty Jerome and Dean Wade will enter Cleveland’s starting lineup in place of forwards Mobley and Hunter, who were both injured during the fourth quarter of Game 1.
According to ESPN, the injuries occurred on a series of plays that Atkinson felt were excessive in terms of contact. The Cavs submitted three plays to the NBA for review, none of which were called for fouls. One play was a jump shot where Mobley landed on Pacers center Myles Turner’s foot and injured his ankle with 8:10 remaining. Another was a block from Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin that resulted in Hunter dislocating his thumb – a play Atkinson challenged unsuccessfully during the game.
Atkinson expressed frustration with the incidents, stating, "What I want to make sure is that we have our best players playing in the playoffs," as reported by ESPN. "It bothers me that we have a defensive player of the year, All-Star, and a great player like De’Andre Hunter that are [out] for this game because in my opinion, all three of those plays were excessive."
Garland, who has not played since Game 2 of the first round against Miami, is missing his fourth consecutive playoff game with a sprained left toe. He was seen running on a treadmill near the team’s practice court on Tuesday, but Atkinson emphasised that the team will be cautious with playing Garland at less than 100%. The toe gives him issues cutting and running, which is especially problematic when trying to keep up with a fast Pacers offense, as per ESPN.
The Cavaliers will have to dig deep to overcome the absence of their key players and level the series against the Pacers. As ESPN reports, Atkinson made clear that he is not accusing the Pacers of playing dirty, but he does feel that the plays crossed the line of even the increased physicality of playoff basketball.
The injuries to Mobley and Hunter occurred on a pair of plays that Atkinson felt were excessive in terms of contact. Mobley landed on Pacers center Myles Turner’s foot and injured his ankle, while Hunter dislocated his thumb after a block from Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin. The Cavs will need to find a way to overcome these injuries and compete against the Pacers without their key players.
In related news, the NBA has been reviewing the plays from Game 1, and Atkinson expressed disappointment that none of the plays were called for fouls. As reported by ESPN, Atkinson noted that it was "inconceivable" that the block from Mathurin was not called a foul.
The Cavaliers and Pacers series is shaping up to be an intense and closely contested one, with both teams battling for a spot in the Eastern Conference finals. The Cavaliers will need to find a way to overcome their injuries and compete against the Pacers without their key players.
This article is based on reporting from ESPN.
