Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland celebrates after making a 3-point basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New Orleans Pelicans, Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
Cavs reveal Darius Garland’s availability for Game 1 vs. Pacers
Cleveland could be without their All-Star point guard on Sunday.
The Cleveland Cavaliers could be without their All-Star point guard for the third playoff game in a row. Darius Garland is officially listed as questionable with a left great toe sprain. This is the same injury that kept him out of games 3 and 4 in Cleveland’s first-round series against the Miami Heat. It also kept him out of two regular-season games in April.
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Garland didn’t practice on Saturday. This was by design after he went through a full, contact practice on Friday. Whether or not he’s able to go in Game 1 will be determined by how he responds on Sunday.
“Our thought was, he’s going to be off the court today,” Atkinson said after practice on Saturday. “So, we’ll see [about Game 1]. I think the feedback from tomorrow [will determine if he can play]. What does it feel like tomorrow?”
Atkinson isn’t quite set on a replacement for Garland in the starting lineup if he can’t go. Sam Merrill stepped in place for Garland in games 3 and 4 of the first round. That could happen again, but it’s not a guarantee.
“We have multiple options,” Atkinson said when asked who could fill in for Garland as a starter. “I’ll just say, [it’s a] different matchup. … You look at what fits best on both sides of the ball.”
The Cavs were 4-3 in the regular season and 2-0 in the playoffs without Garland.
Cleveland doesn’t have any other players on the injury report. Isaiah Jackson (out, right Achilles tendon) is the only Pacer on the injury report.
Game 1 is at 6 PM on Sunday.
