Darius Garland’s Toe Injury Puts Cavaliers Under Pressure
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been dealt a serious blow as their star guard, Darius Garland, continues to battle a stubborn left big toe sprain. Garland has missed three straight playoff games, and heading into Game 2 of the series against the Indiana Pacers, his status is still up in the air. He tried to test his foot with a light shootaround on May 5, but there’s still no word from the Cavs’ camp about whether he can truly go at full speed.
This lingering toe issue isn’t new—Garland tweaked it late in the regular season, then aggravated it during the first-round battle with the Miami Heat. Since then, he just hasn’t looked right and eventually had to sit. It’s hard to overstate what he means to Cleveland’s offense. Before getting sidelined, Garland was averaging 20.6 points and 6.7 assists per game. Without him, the Cavaliers have clearly lost some of their fluidity and punch on the court, especially as ball movement and shot creation have gone missing at key moments.
The impact is clear. Cleveland rolled into the postseason expecting Garland to be a driving force, but with him benched, they dropped Game 1 against the Pacers and now find themselves in an early 1-0 deficit. You see it in the way Cleveland’s offense sputters—defenses can clamp down harder on Donovan Mitchell and cut off movement, knowing they don’t have to worry about Garland threading passes or breaking down coverages.
Injuries Stack Up for Cavaliers, Pacers Battle On
But Garland's issues aren’t the only cloud hanging over this matchup. The Cavaliers are sweating on two other starters: Evan Mobley is nursing a left ankle sprain, and De'Andre Hunter has a lingering right thumb sprain. Both are questionable for Game 2, leaving the Cavs with uncertain depth and a lot of pressure on their remaining healthy stars.
The flipside? The Pacers aren’t escaping unscathed either. Isaiah Jackson is officially ruled out after suffering a right Achilles tendon tear. While Jackson isn’t the Pacers’ focal point, his absence means fewer frontcourt options for Indiana, especially defensively around the rim.
Looking at Cleveland’s rotation, everything gets compressed. If Garland misses Game 2, younger point guards and backcourt role players will have to step up fast. Expect more minutes for the likes of Caris LeVert and Ricky Rubio (if available), and even emergency sparks off the bench if things go south quickly.
This game has all the ingredients for a gritty, physical playoff clash. Both squads know what’s at stake. The Cavs, now staring at a 0-1 hole and a wounded roster, desperately need to even the series. Garland’s availability could swing not just this game, but the entire direction of their playoff hopes. Fans will be glued to the injury reports right up until tip-off, hoping Garland can recover in time to help Cleveland claw their way back.
