Cavaliers’ Garland Listed as Questionable for Game 1 Against Pacers
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have listed All-Star guard Darius Garland as questionable for game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night, according to ESPN. Garland is currently dealing with a sprained left big toe, which has been a lingering issue for the 6-foot-1, sixth-year pro.
Garland missed the final two games of the Cavaliers’ first-round sweep of the Miami Heat, as well as the final two games of the regular season, due to the same injury. Despite this, ESPN reports that Garland did participate in a full-contact practice session on Friday, but did not practice on Saturday. The status of Garland is expected to be a game-time decision, with Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson stating that the team’s medical staff will continue to monitor his progress.
“We’re just in this kind of area where you just got to kind of see day by day and see how it feels tomorrow morning,” Atkinson said after Saturday’s practice, as ESPN reported. Garland’s absence would be a significant blow to the Cavaliers, who rely heavily on his scoring and playmaking abilities. During the regular season, Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists per game, and scored 27 points in the Cavaliers’ 121-100 victory over the Heat on April 20.
Atkinson believes that Garland will have to manage the injury for the remainder of the playoffs. “The toe’s a tough one,” Atkinson said. “There’s pain and all that. But the good thing, when we watch him shooting right now, he’s moving well,” ESPN quoted Atkinson as saying. This suggests that while Garland’s injury is a concern, it may not be severe enough to keep him out of the game entirely.
If Garland is unable to play, ESPN reports that Sam Merrill or Isaac Okoro would likely start in his place. Merrill has already started the past two games, and would be a logical choice to fill in for Garland if he is unable to play.
The Cavaliers will face a tough test against the Pacers, who have been a formidable opponent in the playoffs. With Garland’s status uncertain, the team will need to be prepared to adapt and make adjustments on the fly. As ESPN noted, the team’s medical staff will continue to monitor Garland’s progress, and a final decision on his status will be made closer to game time.
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