Behind an impressive, balanced offensive attack and full-court defensive pressure, Indiana won its series opener in Cleveland against the top-seeded Cavaliers. As Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes (subscriber link) the big question now for the Cavs isn’t how they’ll respond in Game 2 Point guard Darius Garland appeared in a career-high 75 games this season but he aggravated a sprained left big toe in Game 2 of Cleveland’s first-round series vs including Sunday’s loss to the Pacers especially being able to stop and start (on the toe),” head coach Kenny Atkinson said when asked about Garland’s injury “But we don’t want him out there (at) 60 percent While Jared Greenberg of TNT hears there’s no structural damage to Garland’s toe and there’s a chance he could suit up on Tuesday (Twitter link) the two-time All-Star continues to deal with “significant pain and swelling,” according to Fedor respectively — more than half (5o) of the team’s overall field goal attempts (98) The Cavaliers will be under real pressure to play Garland in Game 2 after losing homecourt advantage “I know he’s desperate to play,” Atkinson said after the loss “We need his speed and shot-making.” “I don’t think they were dirty plays but I think it passed a line of physicality,” Atkinson said Monday “That line we’ve kind of been talking about where it became excessive I don’t think this is on Indiana; I have so much respect for how they play and maybe I’m misinterpreting the rules but I have a problem when we got two of our best players doubtful for tomorrow’s game It’s hard for me to get my head around that.” According to Fedor Atkinson referred to Mobley and Hunter as both questionable and doubtful during Monday’s media session Atkinson said they’d be listed as questionable but there’s “real concern” about their availability for Tuesday’s game Garland will also be listed as questionable so it was tough to really gauge kind of where he is,” Atkinson said of Garland Hunter told Fedor after Sunday’s loss that he’d be ready to go on Tuesday but Mobley was a little more circumspect about whether or not he’d be healthy enough to suit up “the two-time All-Star continues to deal with “significant paint and swelling,” according to Fedor” Oh my… injuries are about to derail this historic season they’re very good at beating teams when that team’s starting PG is injured Still gotta win three more and if they do it’ll most likely be a rematch probably with the same results as last season A thousand million years is going to come pretty quick The Cavaliers are going to get a beat down and not advance past this round Register Register INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Darius Garland is listed as questionable for the Cleveland Cavaliers going into the first game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night The All-Star guard is dealing with a sprained left big toe. He missed the final two games of the Cavaliers' first-round sweep of the Miami Heat after being out for the final two games of the regular season due to the same injury Garland did not practice on Saturday after going through a full-contact session on Friday Coach Kenny Atkinson said the status of the 6-foot-1 sixth-year pro will likely be a game-time decision "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 Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season. He scored 27 points in the Cavaliers' 121-100 victory over the Heat on April 20 in the opening game of the series Atkinson said Garland is likely going to have to deal with the injury for the rest of the playoffs Sam Merrill or Isaac Okoro would get the start if Garland is unable to play carried over into the second round; Garland was declared out shortly before tip of Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers Garland himself felt good enough to give TNT's Jared Greenberg a personal update on his status He told the sideline reporter he feels "confident" about returning for Game 2 "(Garland) will remain day-to-day and could play in Game 2 on Tuesday," Greenberg said in his injury update during the first quarter of Game 1 I talked to him briefly and he feels confident he would be able to play on Tuesday." Out for a third-straight game with a sprain in his left big toe, Darius Garland tells @JaredSGreenberg he's optimistic about playing on Tuesday in Game 2 🤝 pic.twitter.com/TSHNmUUMuH The Cavs certainly hope Garland returns as soon as possible The Pacers make up a dangerous offensive machine and Cleveland needs all the creation it can muster to keep up Donovan Mitchell is capable of going off at any given moment but Garland sharing the load offensively has played a big role in the team's overwhelming success this season who made his second All-Star team this year averaged 20.6 and 6.7 assists per contest while appearing in a career-high 75 games The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Sports Illustrated or its affiliates All picks and predictions are suggestions only and not a guarantee of success or profit If you or someone you know has a gambling problem crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER Already with the uncertain status All-Star point guard Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter are now questionable for Tuesday's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals Garland sat out Game 1, while Mobley and Hunter picked up injuries in Indiana's 121-112 win to open the series On Monday, Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said Hunter dislocated his thumb during the game and Mobley is nursing an ankle injury and there is "real concern" about their availability for Tuesday's game Mobley, an All-Star and the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year Atkinson told reporters Monday that Hunter dislocated his thumb on Bennedict Mathurin's block of a Hunter layup attempt that Cleveland asked for an official's review for a foul but I think it passed a line of physicality," Atkinson said "That line we've kind of been talking about where it became excessive Everyone in the world just look at that play I felt he got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb I can't remember if it was before or after and is pushed off balance in kind of our opinion and tweaks his ankle pretty bad I think you guys saw him limping the rest of the game." When is Cavs vs Pacers Game 2?The series continues 7 p.m. Get IndyStar's Pacers coverage sent directly to your inbox with the Pacers Update newsletter which represents 3.19% of Williamson County's 280,561 eligible voters in the May 3 election the Game 1 loss may be the least of their problems With three of the team's key players banged up the Cavaliers' margin for error has shrunk significantly Cleveland's 64-18 record in the regular season was the second-best in the NBA behind Oklahoma City and the second-best in team history but if the Cavaliers lose Tuesday and have to head to Indiana in a 2-0 hole Despite failing to stop the Pacers in Game 1 Center Jarrett Allen said Monday that the team needs to match Indiana's physicality moving forward "The best part about the playoffs is that you get to draw the line yourself," Allen said. "The playoffs are physical I don't think we drew that line yet." The Cavaliers are talented enough to bounce back and beat Indiana in Game 2 the battle to even the series will become much more of an uphill climb CLEVELAND — The first pressure point of the postseason is here for the Cleveland Cavaliers It arrived perhaps sooner than anticipated but there’s no time to worry about that now If the Cavs were trying to sit Darius Garland until they lost in an effort to give his painful toe injury more time to heal The Cavs are in a 1-0 series hole they didn’t see coming after losing Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals 121-112 to the Indiana Pacers The Cavs sure could use Garland back on the floor for Game 2 The Pacers have played fast all season and this was no different The 99.5 pace rating in Game 1 was higher than all but one of their games in the first-round series victory against the Milwaukee Bucks and faster than any game the Cavs played against the Miami Heat in their first-round series But let’s not pretend like the Cavs aren’t accustomed to playing this way They played 47 games during the regular season at an even faster pace and went 40-7 For all of the wonderful things that Ty Jerome has been this season Though he finished with 21 points and eight assists against the Pacers he shot 8 of 20 and his lack of foot speed was exposed at times On a night the Cavs scored 70 points in the paint — and lost — Jerome hoisted the second-most shot attempts behind Donovan Mitchell the bulk of those shots have to go to Evan Mobley when Garland is absent Mobley scored 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a team score 70 points in the paint and lose the game which is a testament to the times we’re living in and the league’s reliance on the 3-point shot The Pacers shot it incredibly well from deep in Game 1 and the Cavs did not this is the healthiest season he has enjoyed as a pro He played in a career-high 75 games this year we may not see Garland for another couple of weeks The Pacers have the advantage now in this series and the defending champion Boston Celtics loom after them should they advance “I know he’s desperate to play,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said after the loss The trickle-down effect from no Garland includes Mitchell recording his second-highest usage rate of the season Jerome had only a handful of games with a higher usage rate and Isaac Okoro played key fourth-quarter minutes because of no Garland Merrill started in place of Garland against Miami and did just fine but the Pacers play at a different level than the Heat Indiana regularly picked up the Cavs’ guards full court defensively While panic will certainly ensue in the streets after losing home-court advantage the odds of Mitchell shooting 1-for-11 from 3 again or the Cavs shooting 24 percent from 3 for another game the Pacers shot better from 3 in Game 1 (53 percent) than they did in all but three games during the regular season Give credit to the Pacers for coming into a loud hostile environment and emphatically imposing their will on the Cavs Andrew Nembhard and Aaron Nesmith were terrific from 3 in part because the Cavs did a lousy job of guarding the 3-point line But Nembhard and Nesmith also made their share of difficult The Cavs didn’t create the same number of quality looks they’re accustomed to seeing instead reverting to a lot of isolation dribbling and contested jumpers rather than the drive/kick/swing offense that punished opponents all season long A lot of it can be traced back to Garland’s absence especially being able to stop and start (on the toe),” Atkinson said “But we don’t want him out there (at) 60 percent Jason Lloyd is a senior columnist for The Athletic, focusing on the Browns, Cavs and Guardians. Follow Jason on Twitter @ByJasonLloyd 1) 0ms;transition:background-color 150ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}.css-v4v4rs{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 1) 0ms;font-size:inherit;}@media (min-width:0px){.css-v4v4rs{display:block;}}@media (min-width:1100px){.css-v4v4rs{display:none;}}.css-mps3fk{-webkit-user-select:none;-moz-user-select:none;-ms-user-select:none;user-select:none;width:1em;height:1em;display:inline-block;fill:currentColor;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;-webkit-transition:fill 120ms cubic-bezier(0.4 "If this was the regular season... Darius Garland would have been shut down for at least a week to two weeks. This is a major burden for a small and shifty point guard," Greenberg continued. "The amount of pain that Garland is dealing with in that toe makes it difficult for him to push off, for him to gain any leverage like he typically does on the court." Garland last suited up in Cleveland’s Game 2 win over the Miami Heat where he posted 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting and dished out nine assists The Cavaliers went on to close out the series in five games The point guard has elevated his play in the postseason averaging 24.0 points after posting 20.6 per game during the regular season Head coach Kenny Atkinson addressed recent comments from Miami’s Kyle Anderson who suggested the Cavs looked better without Garland "Now I don't know the numbers or anything but I think it played more into their favor once Garland wasn't on the floor I don't listen to that," Atkinson said "I think we're better with our All-Star point guard personally." The Cavaliers will be hopeful to have their All-Star guard back in the lineup for Game 2 of the series as they continue their playoff push It was a surprising result, after the Cavaliers — the wire-to-wire No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference — rolled through their first-round opponent, the Miami Heat back-and-forth series; the Cavaliers recorded consecutive losses just three times during the regular season Here are three things we learned from Game 1 of the conference semifinals series between the No. 4 Indiana Pacers and No. 1 Cleveland Cavaliers The Cavaliers sorely missed Darius GarlandIn a game in which the Pacers sprinted out in transition point guard Darius Garland’s absence was palpable Missing his third consecutive game with a toe sprain Garland provides a counterpoint to Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton Although Garland can be a liability on defense his speed and athleticism would’ve helped diversify Cleveland’s offense especially from 3; the Cavs shot just 23.7% from beyond the arc and snapped a streak of 91 games with at least 10 made 3s but regression is likelyWith the tempo the Pacers unleashed Sunday they were able to unsettle Cleveland’s defense And when Indiana was able to put up clean looks from beyond the arc a steep regression to the mean should be expected and the Pacers were tied for a very respectable 9th this season in 3-point percentage Though the stats for fastbreak points appear at first glance to be even — with the Pacers winning 15-14 — that was not reflective of the way Indiana relentlessly scooped rebounds and loose balls and galloped up the floor The Cavaliers did far better in the second half at getting back and protecting the rim and rushing to close lanes in transition Game 1 proved that one half will not be nearly sufficient against a team that ranked 7th in pace (100.76) in the regular season The Cavaliers are preparing for Indiana’s pace ahead of Game 1 on Sunday INDEPENDENCE — Darius Garland didn’t practice with the rest of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday This was by design after he went through a full-contact practice on Friday in preparation for Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday Head coach Kenny Atkinson said that Garland is still “day-to-day.” Whether or not he’s able to go will be determined by how things look on Sunday he’s been alternating between soaking his foot in the “ice” and “warm” buckets in an effort to get his left great toe sprain ready to go This toe injury has kept Garland out of the last two games in their first-round series with the Miami Heat and two games at the end of the regular season given that he stepped in for Garland against Miami But Atkinson wasn’t willing to fully commit to that being the plan again if Garland is unavailable He acknowledged that they have multiple options and that it will come down to the matchup These are just some of the factors that would go into determining Garland’s replacement “The plan to start this is [that] he’s in the rotation,” Atkinson said of Okoro Ice’s ability to get us extra possessions [is important].” he’ll need to be willing to let it fly from three Cleveland can’t afford for Okoro to be hesitant on that end the same thing with all of our role players We need you guys to keep firing up open ones.” Haliburton was recently named the most overrated player in the league by The Athletic’s anonymous player poll Cleveland isn’t treating him like he’s overrated based on how they’re preparing “I didn’t partake in that poll,” Cavs guard Ty Jerome said I think he’s led that team to the four seed but I think he’s a really good point guard.” Jerome shredded the Pacers' defense in the midrange and from beyond the arc in their April 11 meeting He finished with 24 points and six assists in just under 26 minutes of action The pull-up three-point shot was a weapon in that game Five of his six three-point attempts were either pull-up threes or from coming off of on-ball screens Jerome seems to know that this is how he’ll have to attack Indiana’s defense again in the postseason He was one of the last Cavaliers getting on-court work done after practice officially ended on Saturday He was working with assistant coach Mike Gerrity on his pull-up three-point shooting by simulating coming off of high pick and rolls “I don’t think how we found offense is no secret.” One of the ways they found offense is by attacking in the midrange with the floater. The guards have done that consistently against Indiana in their regular-season matchups That appears to be the same plan in the postseason Jerome was asked how to attack Pacers center Myles Turner Matching Indiana’s pace will be a challenge It’s one that the Cavs have been preparing for this week This includes doing defensive drills where an offensive player already starts down the court to simulate how quickly Indiana plays aren’t going to change how they play based on what Indiana likes to do “We can’t change who we are,” Atkinson said “All of a sudden we’re [not] going to become a slow-up team we got to make this a 94 possession game.’ That’s not it “We got to play our style of basketball,” Cavs swingman Max Strus echoed the Cavs aren’t too worried about whether or not Garland can go They know they have the depth to withstand his injury if needed The most successful playoff teams this season have been the ones that can comfortably play eight or more guys Indiana is one of the teams that can go deep into their rotation, as evidenced by how they were able to outlast the top-heavy Milwaukee Bucks in the first round That’s an interesting kind of take on this series because they’re so high-paced It’s going to be who can do it for longer.” Game 1 tips off at 6 PM on Sunday in Cleveland After a first round series that saw Cleveland sweep the Miami Heat by a playoff record combined victory margin of 122 points Towards the end of the season when the Cavs already had the first seed locked up head coach Kenny Atkinson began resting players to keep them fresh for a postseason run. but a key injury popped up against Miami that has the potential to derail Cleveland’s playoff run Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the second half against the Sacramento Kings at Rocket Arena Point guard Darius Garland suffered a toe injury that caused him to miss the final two games of the series. Although he has had over a week to rest and prepare for the Pacers series He has just been ruled out of the first game against Indiana and it is time to panic in Cleveland. Sideline reporter Jared Greenberg reported that the Cavs brass told him that Garland’s injury is cause for “significant concern.” A toe injury for a smaller guard is a hindrance because it prevents the ability to cut and change directions effectively. It was believed that the games he missed against the Heat were purely precautionary because they had control of the series. It is clear now that not only was the injury real but this may be something the All-Star has to deal with throughout the postseason It’s a precarious position to be in ahead of a matchup with a young Garland’s leadership and calming presence with the ball in his hands will be sorely missed Cleveland Cavaliers playoffs: Cavs vs. Pacers features matchup of All-Star forwards Evan Mobley, Pascal Siakam Garland entered May 4 listed as questionable to play but the Cavs formally ruled him out about an hour before tipoff against the Pacers Sam Merrill will enter the starting lineup The team's medical staff wanted to find out how Garland responded May 4 before a final decision would be made about his status for Game 1 Cleveland Cavs score in NBA playoffs: Cavs lose Game 1 to Pacers with poor shooting During Atkinson's media availability before Game 1 he reiterated Garland's status is day to day but it's really how he feels and he is a stop-start guy Garland suffered the injury during the regular season and aggravated it in Game 2 against the Heat Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland has been ruled out with a toe injury ahead of Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers Sunday evening Garland sustained the big toe injury in the fourth quarter of Game 2 against Miami and has been sidelined since He's been rehabbing and working to return to the court and has made progress with him participating in non-contact practice on Thursday and being able to participate in a full-contact practice on Friday RELATED: Cavs G Darius Garland in question for Game 1 against Pacers amid toe injury recovery Cleveland waited until shortly before tipoff to make a decision about the All-Star guard's status The Cavs and the Pacers will tip off at 6 p.m so the offseason is surely the last thing on their minds right now But that won't stop fans and media pundits from already speculating on what the Cavaliers could potentially do this summer especially if they are unceremoniously bounced from the postseason A popular name in general trade conjecture has been Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo who was just eliminated from the first round yet again The Bucks have shown no indication they will move him but some feel Antetokounmpo may ultimately ask to be dealt If a potential Antetokounmpo trade does arise Josh Cornelissen of King James Gospel feels Cleveland may get involved and that Darius Garland could be on the table There has been some debate as to how valuable Garland really is to the Cavs, a discussion that became even louder after the Cavaliers collected a couple of dominant wins in their first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat with Garland sidelined Antetokounmpo is a better player than Garland but would the nine-time All-Star actually fit with Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers if you can acquire a player like Antetokounmpo Milwaukee would obviously be inundated with offers if Antetokounmpo ultimately does hit the trade block and whether or not Cleveland would be able to create a a strong enough package is anyone's guess MORE: Darius Garland's Final Injury Status for Cavaliers-Pacers Game 1 MORE: Cavaliers Star Given Bold Prediction for Playoff Series vs. Pacers MORE: Cleveland Cavaliers Have Massive Respect for Pacers Star Guard MATTHEW SCHMIDT Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson after he made a three-point shot against the Chicago Bulls during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Cleveland CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard Darius Garland missed his third straight game as Cleveland hosted Indiana in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Sunday night sixth-year pro is dealing with a sprained left big toe He missed the final two games of the Cavaliers’ first-round sweep of the Miami Heat after being out for the final two games of the regular season with the same injury Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season He scored 27 points in the Cavaliers’ 121-100 victory over the Heat on April 20 in the opening game of the series before aggravating the injury late in the second game on April 23 Sam Merrill was starting in Garland’s place Garland did not practice Saturday after going through a full-contact session Friday “Toes are tough,” coach Kenny Atkinson said before Sunday’s game but it’s really how he feels and he is a stop-start guy The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Darius Garland hasn't played in a game for the Cleveland Cavaliers since April 23 After missing the last two games of the NBA Playoffs' opening round DG was also ruled out for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals At the beginning of Cleveland's Game 1 matchup against the Indiana Pacers, NBA on TNT reporter Jared Greenburg provided an update on what he's heard about Garland's status and injury "The good news I've been told is that there's no structural damage Garland continues to battle significant swelling and pain He will remain day-to-day and could play in Game 2 on Tuesday and he feels confident he will be able to play on Tuesday," said the sideline reporter Even though Garland could play in Cleveland's next matchup against the Pacers it sounds like he won't be at 100 percent and will still have to manage the pain Garland would likely be shut down for another week to two weeks to stay off of the toe This injury described to me as a 'major burden' for a shifty point guard who needs to push off [their foot] with confidence." The disappointing part of this injury is that Garland was in a good groove and stride before being sidelined with the pain and 2.0 rebounds while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 41 percent from behind the arc We'll see if Garland gives it a go in Game 2 MORE: Darius Garland's Final Injury Status for Cavaliers-Pacers Game 1 MORE: Cavaliers Star Given Bold Prediction for Playoff Series vs. Pacers MORE: Cleveland Cavaliers Have Massive Respect for Pacers Star Guard MORE: Why Evan Mobley is the Key to the Cavaliers Series With Pacers MORE: Full Series Schedule for Cavaliers-Pacers Playoff Matchup customized to your favorite sports and teams In his book released in October 2024 journalist Bob Woodward wrote that in early 2021 Garland and Milley met for lunch at the Department of Justice They discussed then-former President Trump and Milley pressed the attorney general to investigate domestic threats and “far-right militia groups.” Woodward described the meeting as “highly unusual Judicial Watch sued the Defense Department after it failed to respond to a February 10 Records and communications including emails regarding a meeting between Merrick Garland (1) President or former President Donald J “General Milley is a seditionist – and abusing his office to target President Trump and millions of Americans is par for the course,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton “Defense Secretary Hegseth should order immediate transparency and release of the documents about General Milley to Judicial Watch and the American people.” In December 2024, Judicial Watch sued the Justice Department for records on the 2021 meeting between Garland and Milley In February 2025, Judicial Watch sued the Defense Department for information about two conference calls involving Milley with the Justice Department Interior and Homeland Security regarding coordination for the January 6 During postseason exit interviews, Heat forward Kyle Anderson said the Cavs played better in the series when All-Star guard Darius Garland didn't play Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was asked about the remark at practice I don't listen to that," Atkinson said "I think we're better with our All-Star point guard personally." Here’s #Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson on Darius Garland + his response to talk they played better without Garland v #Heat pic.twitter.com/D07ERKI62H Although Garland averaged 24 points and seven assists before missing the final two games with a toe injury it's hard to ignore the difference in point differential The Heat lost by a combined 30 points in the first two games as opposed to a staggering 92 points in the last two games the Cavaliers' defense allowed almost 27 fewer points per 100 possessions when Garland was off the floor in the series Garland told reporters earlier in the series that picking on Tyler Herro is a key to success for the Cavaliers Alexander Toledo is a contributor to Miami Heat On SI and producer/co-host of the Five on the Floor podcast, covering the Heat and NBA. He can be reached at toledoalexander22@gmail.com. Twitter: @tropicalblanket The Miami Heat's season ended Monday as the Cleveland Cavaliers completed the most lopsided sweep in the NBA's history Heat newcomer Kyle Anderson was asked what changed between the first two games and the last two games of the first round series at optional exit interviews on Wednesday I don’t mean to throw shots at anybody or even entertain what was going on between them but they looked like a better team without Garland on the floor," Anderson said "Now I don't know the numbers or anything but I think it played more into their favor once Garland wasn't on the floor Garland called out "picking on Tyler Herro" as a key strategy for the Cavs earlier in the series so this can come off as bad-mouthing the team that just beat them down As 'The Dunker Spot's Nekias Duncan points out the Cavaliers' defensive rating was about six points better when Garland wasn't out there Anderson elaborated on what changed for the Heat when Garland a two-time All-Star who averaged 24 points and seven assists in the first two games of the series they had more guys out there on defense so I think once we came across that it got kind of tough for us I'm not saying they’re better without Garland ALEX TOLEDOAlex, who was born in Miami, is also a producer, co-host and reporter for the Five on the Floor podcast. He has covered the Heat and NBA since 2019 as a season credential holder. He studied journalism at Florida International University. Written by RotoWire Staff Garland (toe) is questionable for Game 2 versus the Pacers on Tuesday Garland has missed three straight postseason contests due to a sprained left great toe that he sustained near the end of the regular season He did go through a light practice Monday morning though coach Kenny Atkinson said it's still tough to gauge where he's at in his recovery Sam Merrill started in Garland's place in Game 1 but was quiet with six points in 18 minutes After the Cavs' 121-112 Game 2 victory on Wednesday Garland was brutally honest about his team's offensive game plan to get out to a 2-0 lead who is averaging 24.0 points on 52% shooting in the two games don't play in tight spaces and pick on their weak defenders "To go to the media to talk about the game plan and this and that says a lot about him I'm not worried about Darius Garland," Herro said "Somebody that doesn't play defense shouldn't be talking He don't play any defense and we'll see that [in Game 3 on Saturday] who will miss Saturday's game with a sprained left big toe The Cavs' strategy has been blatantly obvious as they have relentlessly attacked Herro in pick-and-rolls and isolations According to GeniusIQ, Herro has defended 50 on-ball screens as the screener defender in the two games. In Game 2, Herro defended 32 on-ball screens as the screener defender, the second guard to defend more than 30 on-ball screens as the screener defender in a playoff game since player tracking began in 2013-14, joining Stephen Curry The Cavs are doing it so often because it's working They are 18-of-31 shooting (58%) with Herro as the primary defender according to ESPN Research tracking the Cavs are averaging 133 points per 100 possessions The series has largely centered on guard play with Donovan Mitchell scoring 30 points in both Games 1 and 2 and Davion Mitchell leading a Heat comeback attempt in Game 2 with 14 fourth-quarter points But Herro also downplayed that Garland's comments would affect him "I don't need any fuel from that guy over there." Heat captain Bam Adebayo said Garland's comments made an impact in the Heat's locker room We all take that personally," Adebayo said Now he turns his gaze towards the ferocity of combat in new film Warfare Joseph Quinn's excruciating howls of pain go on and on continuing long after most films would have moved forward defines what is so unique and effective about this real-time 90-minute immersion into an actual US mission in Iraq Alex Garland, the writer and director of Civil War Garland's virtuosity and Mendoza's first-hand experience create a masterful technical achievement that is Warfare feels even more visceral because it arrives when actual wars are raging giving the film more immediacy than it might have had even just five years ago Civil War extrapolated from today's politically divided world into a near-future where combat tears across the US but that was only true in the sense that this dire warning didn't endorse specific political parties focusing on the nature of war itself by way of one that happens to be in Iraq recreating the feelings of fear and simple will to live when you are trappedMendoza was part of the 2006 mission the film depicts an operation that was not major or particularly notable a group of US Navy Seals – played by first-rate actors including Will Poulter Kit Connor and D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai – creep into an Iraqi town to do surveillance ahead of ground troops arriving the next day dragging its residents out of bed and smashing through a wall between two apartments and soon spot al-Qaeda jihadists gathering across the street but nothing prepares us for the shattering sound or the bloody impact when a grenade is lobbed into their window Let's not exaggerate that immersive element Sitting in a cinema doesn't come close to the reality of combat recreating the feelings of fear and simple will to live when you are trapped a sitting target for armed men doing their best to kill you Garland and Mendoza's rigorous approach to the screenplay makes this film more docudrama than fiction They relied entirely on the accounts of the men who were part of the mission cross-checking to account for faulty memories and drop us into the action without any backstory about the characters The dialogue is restricted to the military shorthand the Seals would have used with no time for the jokey banter most war movies indulge in That sounds dry, but every actor makes it work, partly because they have faces that hold the screen. Woon-A-Tai (Reservation Dogs) is a central character a communications officer relaying by radio the team's locations and information back to home base Woon-A-Tai captures the intensity of the job The film doesn't explain its military jargon but it's easy enough to grasp that when he radios for a "casevac" it means a casualty evacuation for the wounded Garland is an expert at creating intense action scenesPoulter plays the officer in charge of the group When help is nearby and he can't pinpoint his exact location he tells them: "Look for the blood and the smoke Quinn is a standout even before his character's injuries conveying a fear and sense of danger not far from the surface But the effectiveness of the real-time approach is felt most strongly after he is wounded and his inescapable cries continue in the background even as the others strategise how to move him and Jarvis's severely wounded character out when US tanks arrive Garland is an expert at creating intense action scenes The screen fills with smoke so that it feels like night there are wounded men and a severed leg on the ground the most graphic videos usually come with warnings that the images might be disturbing but Garland and Mendoza don't let us look away Warfare is in a line of films about divisive conflicts from Vietnam (Apocalypse Now) to Iraq (The Hurt Locker) that have focused on the soldiers rather than the politics But no war film is entirely detached from its setting and Garland and Mendoza acknowledge that in a significant way The Iraqi civilians don't get much time on screen but the impact of those scenes is enormous mother and their two small children cower together in the corner of a bedroom the Americans' reassurances that they won't be hurt seem hollow These people are civilians held at gunpoint as their home is destroyed around them simply because it is in a convenient location for surveillance They are both specific to Iraq and stand-ins for innocent victims of wars everywhere with its blood-soaked scenes and brutal sounds it seems to question the wisdom of settling any conflict even or especially one about global power and politics with the kind of violence this film draws us into so intimately If you liked this story sign up for The Essential List newsletter For more Culture stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram Rome's most stunning optical illusions revealedFrom the Malta Knights keyhole to a set of vanishing columns, discover the Eternal City's visual secrets. 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The former US Navy Seal on working alongside the Ex Machina director to produce a war movie that’s as true to life as possible Ray Mendoza, 45, served for more than 16 years as a US Navy Seal and training instructor before leaving to work as a Hollywood military adviser, specialising in choreographing gunfight sequences for movies including Alex Garland’s Civil War (2024) It’s with Garland that he’s now co-written and co-directed the film Warfare a claustrophobically immersive account of an ill-fated surveillance mission that he survived in Ramadi province and the attack intensified as the Seals sought to evacuate their wounded described in the New Yorker as “a work of hyper-exacting realism” How do you feel about war films in general?I feel not seen It’s actually embarrassing to watch them – they don’t get our culture right are you worried that Warfare may trigger veterans and active-duty military what is more triggering is seeing what we go through not accurately represented Did you have any concerns about telling a story rooted in personal trauma?I knew I had to be responsible The biggest fear was always somebody getting hold of it and changing it through creative licence or because it doesn’t fit into the traditional Hollywood grammar of moviemaking but I had no reservations once I got to know Alex The two of you agreed that you wouldn’t embellish or dramatise the story How did that work?We interviewed as many of the guys as we could and took a detective-like approach to slotting everyone’s memories together then I came back and Alex had to take the reins for the rest of the dayThis all happened almost 20 years ago Did you and the others talk about it much at the time?No but we didn’t take the time to slot them all together because we were operating again two days later Has making Warfare been therapeutic?Writing with Alex was more like going to a therapist every day than going to a writing session Obviously he’s a great writer but he’s also a great listener Diving into the details and the more emotional components some of the questions he’s asked me have been far more intelligent than [those asked by] some therapists I have spoken to It’s comforting because you feel heard and you feel understood Were there any difficult moments during filming?Having my director hat on allowed me to detach myself emotionally most of the time but there was one particular take of the scene where the IED goes off and D’Pharaoh [D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, who plays Mendoza] starts to drag Cosmo [Cosmo Jarvis and it struck a chord – a lot of emotions that were down there started to manifest themselves then I came back and Alex had to take the reins for the rest of the day Will Poulter and D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai in a scene from Warfare Photograph: Murray Close/APThe actor playing you cries I think I’d have had a reaction no matter who it was but there are also some incredibly tense moments of stillness.I wanted to bring out this heightened sense You can hear your hand scratching your hair or a pen on paper I hear you put the cast through a three-week boot camp before filming started.I gave Will [Will Poulter who plays the officer in charge of the operation] a lot of autonomy and ownership Cherish the ride because you’re going to experience something that most actors do not get to experience The goal was to put them in positions where they rely on each other then I injected stressors – gave them tasks that I knew they couldn’t complete gave them time lines I knew they couldn’t make with long days and no time to go back to the trailers Was the food superior on set?Fridays were good – there’d be something fun like an ice-cream truck It’s been argued that war films inevitably wind up glorifying conflict How does Warfare feed into that debate?It isn’t meant to fit into some political box There’s not a lot of narrative for a reason: it’s for you to fill in the blanks There’s no score for a reason: adding music I can lead you to believe what I want you to believe or I can make you feel what I want you to feel – sad But if you watch this and say I think war is a good thing then you should reassess how you view things It doesn’t mean I’m not impervious to trauma Watch a trailer for Warfare.Did you write at all while serving?No a lot of what I’ve seen that has stuck with me is in things like firefights that I’ve choreographed for movies video games … they’re kind of like a living journal that only I know about Could you ever have imagined you’d wind up in Hollywood?No in that you have multiple departments working together to achieve something There was a lot of concern about our shooting schedule for Warfare but we did it and I now use this as a template for how much we can film What’s next for you as a writer?There are a few things I’m developing Warfare in is UK and Irish cinemas from 18 April This is the archive of The Observer up until 21/04/2025 The Observer is now owned and operated by Tortoise Media Luft is confident the film would have been popular with her mother Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty; Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Co-directed by Alex Garland and former soldier Ray Mendoza this brutally accurate account of a US special forces mission gone wrong is viscerally immersive but unaware of a point or a meaning beyond the horror and reconstructed the events from his own memories and those of his comrades often skull-splittingly loud film; real-time action with a found-footage aesthetic featuring opaque technical dialogue and eerily ice-cold quiet moments seen from the aerial reconnaissance computer screen Warfare really does show the punishing boredom of a soldier’s life But it is weirdly obtuse and self-congratulatory the shock of its ending softened by some bizarrely misjudged material over the closing credits showing pictures of the actors next to their real-life counterparts and even showing home-movie type footage of these soldiers now beamingly hugging the stars It’s as if Garland and Mendoza finally felt the need to pull out to reveal the bigger picture an American unit with two Iraqi scouts is moved under cover of darkness into a residential area of Ramadi province ruthlessly taking over two apartments and ordering the terrified civilian occupants to stay in a bedroom and keep quiet; they knock a discreet hole in the wall and set up a sniper-surveillance position from which to give cover for a ground-troop operation The team includes Ray himself (D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai) MacDonald (Michael Gandolfini) and Sam (Joseph Quinn) While Elliott does nothing but gaze through his gun-sight minutes and hours of tense silence drag by as the men One drags his fingertip across a dusty surface There is no old-school stuff about the guys in a quiet moment looking up at the stars and talking to each other about what they’re going to do when the war is over But when Elliott has to lay his sniper rifle down for a moment and stretch his legs a less experienced and less competent guy has to take over and fails to take out a jihadi with a weapon across the street The insurgents are close by and the unit is in danger; they lose air cover the tank that was supposed to be taking them away is blown up and there is carnage One man even slips on the fragment of a severed leg in the road scrambling back into the apartment building after the aborted evacuation But Warfare doesn’t have the anti-war reflex and is almost fierce in its indifference to political or historical context the resource that should be more readily available two decades on There is almost no conventional narrative progression: Erik gets rattled and has to cede command to someone else but it makes no real difference to the dramatic shape the two Iraqi scouts become scared when they realise that they are to be the first out of the door for the planned evacuation but there is no real tribal division between them and the Americans Periodically the men will radio for a “show of force” to keep the jihadis at bay: a fighter plane whooshing terrifyingly low along the street leaving behind an eardrum-pulverised silence which scours the screen of thought They have an odd role to play in those weird photos over the final credits Some of the real-world soldiers have their faces blanked out presumably due to ongoing security considerations But the film also shows a picture of an Iraqi family Because … Garland and Mendoza tried to locate these people and ask for their memories too But they just remain blank – and irrelevant The movie is its own show of force in some ways surely accurate in showing what the soldiers did though blandly unaware of a point or a meaning beyond the horror 17 April in Australia and 18 April in the UK The Pacers will now look to move up 2-0 in the series The Cavaliers could be without their All-Star forward Mobley is listed as questionable ahead of Tuesday's Game 2 Evan Mobley (ankle) questionable for Tuesday The one-time All-Star landed on the injury report due to an ankle issue Not only could the Cavaliers be without their star big man but two of their key players are also on the injury report: guard Darius Garland and forward De'Andre Hunter Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson expressed genuine concern that they could miss Game 2 Kenny Atkinson express real concern for the availability of Evan Mobley (ankle) and DeAndre Hunter (dislocated shooting thumb) tomorrow’s game 2 @NBAonTNT Mobley was solid in Game 1 as he did all he could to lead the Cavaliers to a 1-0 lead He recorded 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field Hunter suffered a wrist injury in the third quarter of Game 1 He briefly exited the contest but ultimately finished the game Hunter recorded 11 points off the bench in 30 minutes of action is in danger of missing his fourth consecutive playoff game He missed Game 1 due to a sprained big toe The 25-year-old All-Star has only played in two games thus far and 2.5 rebounds per game while shooting an efficient 51.6 percent from the floor and 41.2 percent from beyond the arc Garland played 75 games and delivered steady production: 20.6 points and the Pacers will look to take advantage of every single angle they can All five of their starting five recorded double-digit points who scored 23 big points on an impressive 7-of-10 shooting from the field the Pacers enter Game 2 as massive road underdogs More Pacers: Pacers' Rick Carlisle Offers One-Word to Describe Cavaliers Gregg Popovich Had Surprising Impact on Career of Pacers' Rick Carlisle Breaking Down Potential Pacers, Cavaliers Matchup For more news and notes on the Indiana Pacers, visit Indiana Pacers on SI RICARDO KLEIN Sean Barnard gives the latest injury update on Darius Garland and De’Andre Hunter ahead of the Cavaliers’ Game 2 matchup vs The Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers kicked off the opening game of the second round of NBA Playoff action The Pacers produced a 121-112 victory over the Cavaliers with Cleveland having their injury concerns worsen Darius Garland missed the series opener with his toe issue that also kept him out of the final two games vs. the Heat There is some legitimate concern with this injury with NBA on TNT’s Jared Greenberg reporting he would be shut down for at least one to two weeks if this were the regular season REPORT: Darius Garland’s toe sprain is a ‘significant concern’ for the Cavs, per @JaredSGreenberg.“If it was the regular season… Darius Garland would have been shut down for at least 1-2 weeks.” pic.twitter.com/DNrxVbUw71 Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter each joined Garland on the injury report following the Game 1 loss while Mobley’s ankle is proving bothersome Head coach Kenny Atkinson seemingly expressed some legitimate concern that both players’ status for Game 2 could be in doubt with this sure to be a storyline to monitor Kenny Atkinson updates after Game 1Deandre Hunter (thumb) & Evan Mobley (ankle) are both Questionable for Game 2 vs Indiana. Doesn’t blame Pacers for being physical but says in his opinion refs missed calls. #LetEmKnow #YesCers pic.twitter.com/063O5hVF1Z Cleveland is on the heels of a wildly successful regular season in which they went 64-18 and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference They had no trouble sweeping the Heat in the opening round with the 122-point margin of victory marking the largest point differential for a series in NBA playoff history The Pacers hold +370 odds on the Moneyline of getting the outright win and taking a 2-0 series advantage Cleveland still holds -210 odds of winning the series on DraftKings Sportsbook with the Pacers listed at +170 The status of these key Cavaliers players very well could shift any of these odds if they are to miss time and their status is worth monitoring leading up until tomorrow’s Game 2 matchup The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets face the Thunder tonight for Game 1 of their conference semifinal series Here’s the top Jokic prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook Acuña has yet to play this season after undergoing ACL surgery last year CALL 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (AZ/CO/DC/IA/IL/IN/KS/KY/LA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NJ/NH/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY) (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA) Call 877-8-HOPENY / text HOPENY (467369) (NY).Please Gamble Responsibly Void where prohibited.21+ (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY) Physically present in AZ/CO/DC/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY only On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS) Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters that Garland went through a full practice on Friday and had a scheduled rest day on Saturday but it remains to be seen if he'll suit up for Game 1 Cleveland swept Miami and outscored the Heat by a combined 92 points in the games Garland missed While Garland's absence was not too damaging to the Cavaliers in the first round getting him back on the floor will be crucial 6.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 75 games during the regular season and averaged 24 points seven assists and 2.5 rebounds in the first two games against Miami After a third straight play-in appearance that fell short of a playoff berth, the Bulls face an interesting offseason, as NBA insider Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron (Substack link) previews Chicago guard Josh Giddey submitted an encouraging performance during his inaugural season with Chicago just in time for him to hit restricted free agency this summer could potentially give Giddey an offer sheet but the Bulls will have the rights to match it Gozlan projects that Giddey’s play could fetch him a yearly salary in the range of $20-$30MM Standout guard Coby White who will be eligible for a contract extension next season could earn a significant annual raise if he forgos an extension and instead waits until he reaches unrestricted free agency in 2026 and many of those players could be moved in offseason trades rather than extended There’s more out of the Central Division: This off season could be a fantastic stepping stone to rebuild but these morons will run back the same lot with more than likely the same results But I don’t think their expiring deals would net much in return might as well wait til the deadline or just let the deals expire and take the cap space moving forward The Bulls have a giant trade exemption from the DDR and LaVine trades and they have to use them soon So they would just be able to get draft picks back without adding salary If I told you I understood anything about the way NBA teams make trades but he’s a certified ball-hog and his ball-hog ways will cost the CAVS a game/s in the playoffs – I give you Game 1 of this East Semis but even Stevie Wonder can see that he’s about the most trigger happy bench guy in the league taught now I posted earlier that Ty will cost them a game or two come playoffs it would be like if the Celtics lost to the Knicks His Knicks lost to the same Pacers team in last season’s playoffs after they lost their starting PG to injury as well so I’m not sure he would have helped they could use their expiring contracts to take on a couple bad deals and picks Dame is probably the worst now – don’t know about Embiid yet But being a facilitator is partially what landed the Thunder in the position they are in now with all their assets Milwaukee doesn’t have any assets to attach to Dame unless you are trying to get a 2030 1st round pick Al you should be happy you have a winner in Brunson When the game’s on the line they both try to do too much Mitchell’s has had heroic 40-50 point games where he willed his team to win on multiple occasions Brunson hit the game winner against the Pistons but they wouldn’t have been in that position if he hadn’t gone 3-13 in the 4th prior to that shot Cleveland could be without their All-Star point guard on Sunday Updated at 5:38 PM - The Cleveland Cavaliers will be without their All-Star point guard for the third playoff game in a row Darius Garland is officially OUT 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 Even though Garland won’t be available for Sunday there’s the possibility that he could return later in the series Head coach Kenny Atkinson labeled the injury as “day-to-day” during his pregame media availability on Sunday Garland didn’t practice on Saturday but did on Friday when he was a full participant in contact he’s going to be off the court today,” Atkinson said after practice on Saturday I think the feedback from tomorrow [will determine if he can play] Atkinson wasn’t ready to name a replacement for Garland in the starting lineup on Saturday Sam Merrill stepped in place for Garland in games 3 and 4 of the first round “We have multiple options,” Atkinson said when asked who could fill in for Garland as a starter You look at what fits best on both sides of the ball.” Atkinson will be sticking with what has been working Merrill will be in the starting lineup joining Donovan Mitchell 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 right Achilles tendon) is the only Pacer on the injury report Ohio — The Cleveland Cavaliers won the last two games in their first-round sweep of the Miami Heat without All-Star guard Darius Garland who has been recovering from a toe injury he sustained in Game 2 against the Heat entering Game 1 of their second-round series with the Indiana Pacers the Cavs may be without Garland once again Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson outlined Garland's activity this week Garland participated in a non-contact practice getting shots up and moving around the court with coaches Garland was able to participate in a full-contact practice Garland was held out of practice Saturday to rest and see how he responded to Friday's practice session so just didn't want to load it again second day 'Try it.' We're just in this area where you just got to kind of see day-to-day The Cavs will see how Garland feels Sunday morning before making a decision on his status for Game 1 With or without Garland for Sunday's series opener the Cavs have options and are sorting through the plan we're going to find out the DG situation tomorrow and then we'll kind of pivot from there Having a number of options is a nod to the depth of the team That's something they've leaned on all year long and will continue doing in the postseason a team that also tends to go 10 or more deep like the Cavs If we have someone out and we've seen what the 11th guy looks like So that's an interesting take on this series because they're so high-paced they can't play like that and play seven guys they're confident in their depth in any scenario We've had 18 guys play for us this season that have all contributed to winning in any aspect I think everybody on this team understands the importance of winning and understands the importance of playing your role and not having an ego about it And I think we've been doing that all season so it's not too much of an adjustment to do it now," said swingman Max Strus "Guys know that it might not be their night tonight we have a lot of guys that understand how to work and the importance of it They're always going to be ready when their number's called." And while they hope to have Garland available they plan to be ready for the Pacers one way or the other Obviously we hope he's available and if he's not we'll be ready," said guard Ty Jerome This is after Darius Garland was ruled out right before tip-off due to a sprain in his left big toe. The two-time All-Star has been sidelined for a third straight game after also being forced to sit out Games 3 and 4 against the Miami Heat in the first round NBA on TNT reporter Jared Greenberg provided a crucial update on Garland's condition right before the game started the nature of the injury requires the Cavs point guard to get as much rest as he can to heal. is there's no structural damage," Greenberg noted He will remain day-to-day and could play in Game 2 on Tuesday." Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates after making a three-point basket was able to provide an optimistic update on his status moving forward. and he feels confident he will be able to play Tuesday," Greenberg continued. Garland would likely be shut down for another week to two weeks to stay off of the toe.. This injury (was) described to me as a major burden for a shifty point guard." The biggest takeaway here is that Garland himself has declared his intention to play in Game 2 which will potentially be his first game back since he last took the court on April 23. This means that conditioning could be an issue for the 25-year-old should he be cleared to play through the injury. Nevertheless, the fact that Garland has a shot at returning to action is a significant development for the Cavs and their chances against the Pacers in this series. There is no guarantee that Garland will be available for Tuesday's game, but the optimism from the former Vanderbilt star is a promising sign. The last time the Cavs were in action was on Monday as they blew out the Miami Heat This only means that Cleveland has had a full week of rest which makes their latest injury update even more concerning. According to NBA on TNT reporter Jared Greenberg, Cavs star point guard Darius Garland has been ruled out of Sunday's matchup against the Pacers due to a sprained left big toe. Garland was initially listed as questionable heading into the game but he was ultimately ruled out right before tip-off This marks the two-time All-Star's third straight game on the sidelines as he continues to deal with a troubling injury. Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates after making a three-point basket in the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena The silver lining here is that, according to Greenberg, Garland still has a shot at playing in Game 2 on Tuesday. The Cavs have not ruled him out for that one, and the 6-foot-1 guard is currently considered day-to-day There is reportedly "no structural damage" on his toe. For now, though, Cleveland will need to try and win the series opener at home without the services of their starting point guard. Donovan Mitchell will be tasked to carry an even heavier load against Tyrese Haliburton and Co., who are coming off a 4-1 series win against the Milwaukee Bucks. In two games played in the postseason thus far, Garland has averaged 24.0 points 7.0 assists and 3.5 triples in 31.5 minutes per contest. and they didn't even have Darius Garland over the last two games of the series though: the Cavaliers were even more dominant in Garland's absence winning Games 3 and 4 by an average of 46 points Should that change the way we look at Garland Josh Cornelissen of King James Gospel seems to think so and outlines why he feels Cleveland is actually better without Garland He notes that the Cavs' net rating was actually superior sans Garland during the regular season noting that the team's defense was noticeably better when he wasn't on the floor He also mentions the fact that Ty Jerome did a phenomenal job as the third guard and that there wasn't much of an offensive dropoff when he replaced Garland "It's impossible to look at those numbers coming from a season when Darius Garland was a deserving All-Star should be on an All-NBA team (but probably just misses out) and played extremely well and not conclude that the Cavaliers are better without him on the court," Cornelissen wrote Cornelissen isn't saying that Cleveland should dump Garland but that the Cavs may be better off minimizing his role Cornelissen isn't sure that Cleveland should take such drastic measures, especially after Garland helped the team win 64 games this season. However, it may be something the Cavs need to consider against the Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs MORE: Cleveland Cavaliers Hit Impressive Historical Milestone in Series Against Heat MORE: Browns Defender Makes Bold Statement About Cavaliers-Pacers Playoff Series MORE: Cavaliers Can Expect A Test From Pacers In Eastern Conference Semifinals MORE: Start Date Revealed For Cavaliers Second Round Matchup With Pacers Things could get worse before they get better for the Cleveland Cavaliers after All-Star point guard Darius Garland's latest injury update Garland sat out Cleveland's Game 1 Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left big toe It marked his third straight missed playoff game because of the issue raising concerns about when the Cavaliers can expect him back on the hardwood And based on pregame coverage from NBA on TNT's Jared Greenberg that may not happen as soon as the team would like There is "significant concern" regarding Darius Garland's toe pic.twitter.com/PH8rFAtekK Subscribe to The Whiteboard FanSided's daily email newsletter on everything basketball The Cavs expressed "significant concern" regarding Garland's ailment to Greenberg So much so that suiting up wouldn't even be an option for the standout floor general if it weren't the postseason Darius Garland would have been shut down for at least a week to two weeks," Greenberg stated "This is a major burden for a small and shifty point guard." Moreover, Greenberg added that Garland's degree of pain makes "[pushing] off" and "[gaining] any leverage like he typically does on the court" challenging. Yet, midway through the first quarter of Cleveland's defeat at the hands of Indiana, the former gave the latter a more optimistic outlook on his status Garland told Greenberg he "feels confident" about his availability for Game 2 it sounds like Donovan Mitchell's backcourt mate will be at less than 100 percent if active something they probably already planned on doing given his shortcomings on that end of the floor Cleveland thrived without Garland versus Miami to a point where Miami Heat forward Kyle Anderson said they were harder to beat when he didn't play But his absence was felt when Indy stole home-court advantage from the top-seeded Cavaliers with an impressive 121-112 Game 1 road victory a team that went 64-18 in the regular season and coasted past its first-round playoff opponent finds itself in hot water © 2025 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved Betting and gambling content is intended for individuals 21+ and is based on individual commentators' opinions and not that of Minute Media or its affiliates and related brands Garland sat out Cleveland's Game 1 Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the Indiana Pacers due to a sprained left big toe There is "significant concern" regarding Darius Garland's toe pic.twitter.com/PH8rFAtekK Subscribe to The Whiteboard Moreover, Greenberg added that Garland's degree of pain makes "[pushing] off" and "[gaining] any leverage like he typically does on the court" challenging. Yet, midway through the first quarter of Cleveland's defeat at the hands of Indiana, the former gave the latter a more optimistic outlook on his status Cleveland thrived without Garland versus Miami to a point where Miami Heat forward Kyle Anderson said they were harder to beat when he didn't play The Cleveland Cavaliers face an uphill battle after dropping Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers especially with All-Star point guard Darius Garland's uncertain health status Cavaliers guard Darius Garland missed his third straight game as Cleveland hosted Indiana in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal series He missed the final two games of the Cavaliers’ first-round sweep of the Miami Heat after being out for the final two games of the regular season due to the same injury CLEVELAND (AP) — Cavaliers guard Darius Garland missed his third straight game as Cleveland hosted Indiana in the opener of their Eastern Conference semifinal series Sunday night Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content rewritten or redistributed without permission Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Sign up to receive a daily list of Obituary notifications Signup today for the Harker Heights Herald Would you like to receive sports news from all the schools we cover Would you like to receive news about the Copperas Cove Bulldawgs Would you like to receive news about the Belton Tigers Would you like to receive news about the Ellison Eagles Would you like to receive news about the Florence Buffaloes Would you like to receive news about the Gatesville Hornets Would you like to receive news about the Harker Heights knights Would you like to receive news about the Killeen Kangaroos Would you like to receive news about the Lampasas Badger Would you like to receive news about the Lometa Hornets Would you like to receive news about the Midway Panthers Would you like to receive news about the Salado Eagles Would you like to receive news about the Shoemaker Grey Wolves Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account TEXAS — North Texas is set to welcome a new professional soccer club as USL Dallas rebrands to Atlético Dallas The announcement was made during a community event in downtown Garland Atlético Dallas will begin play in the USL Championship in 2027 The club’s identity includes Texas-inspired colors—light blue and white—and mascots symbolizing regional pride: the Mexican Gray Wolf and Rattlesnake The organization also introduced Atlético Dallas Youth formed through a merger with Renegades Soccer Club creating a direct development path for over 2,500 young athletes The club’s website now features merchandise and information on both the professional and youth programs at atleticodallas.com and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Learn how to describe the purpose of the image (opens in a new tab) Leave empty if the image is purely decorative While Darius Garland was ruled out for the Cavs’ Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers According to Jared Greenberg, he said that the injury would sideline him during the regular season for one to two weeks considering Garland is one of their top guards His 3-point shooting and playmaking are essential for the offense While Donovan Mitchell can pick up the slack Garland’s impact transcends what is on the court His leadership has been a major factor as well Facing a gritty Pacers team will not make matters any easier They eliminated the Milwaukee Bucks in five games and showed their dominance the Cavs were the Eastern Conference’s best team Garland’s impact is essential on the floor Although his game isn’t flashy like Mitchell’s the Cavs have one of the top offenses in terms of points and offensive rating However, the Cavs can move around Garland with guys like Ty Jerome off the bench. He’s been a contributing factor as a point guard and improved shooting can fill the void nicely but it’s the best thing Cleveland has in the meantime this series will be too close for the Cavs’ comfort There’s no specific timetable for Garland’s return Garland could return sooner rather than later then the point guard will be instrumental in how far the team will go against the Pacers Hayden Cilley joined ClutchPoints in August 2024 as a Phoenix Suns and Mercury reporter Hayden is also an Associate Editor for ClutchPoints and Cavs Nation The race for Garland's new mayor appears headed for a runoff As of 11 p.m. Saturday, unofficial results showed former City Council member Deborah Morris leading the six-person race with 44.3% of the vote Current City Council member Dylan Hedrick followed with 33.4.% of the vote Because no one reached the threshold needed a runoff election between the top two vote-getters will take place on June 7 The winner will replace outgoing Mayor Scot LeMay Morris served three terms on the Garland City Council before she termed out in 2024 She told KERA earlier this year she wants to prioritize public safety and strengthening Garland’s regional presence “I want to be able to do more than I've done in the last six years to reach more people and to engage more people in our city processes convincing them that they make a difference,” Morris said Hedrick is serving his third and final term representing District 7 on the Garland City Council he served on the city’s plan commission and the citizen's bond study committee Hedrick said his background as a civil engineer specializing in land development gives him the expertise to rebuild city infrastructure and further economic development “I work with developers directly every day to try to get them to have successful projects,” Hedrick said “I want to do that now with the city – a public private partnership to really expand the economic growth that's taken place over the past six years in Garland.” Shibu Samuel and Koni Ramos-Kaiwi all received less than 8% of the vote Also on Saturday’s ballot was a $360 million bond package Unofficial results showed voters approved all four propositions allocates $230 million to street and alley improvements It had 82.7% of the vote in favor as of 11 p.m Prop B asked for $75 million for economic development projects as well as revitalization and neighborhood vitality Saturday show 66.2% of voters approved Prop C It asked for $25 million to renovate the Granville Arts Center needs improvements to things like plumbing and its HVAC system Prop D asked for $30 million for park and recreation improvements trails and other amenities at Harbor Point It had 74.8% of the vote in favor as of 11 p.m The last time the city floated a bond package was in 2019 when voters approved $423.7 million in bonds for facilities and major intersections Priscilla Rice is KERA’s communities reporter. Got a tip? Email her at price@kera.org. KERA News is made possible through the generosity of our members. If you find this reporting valuable, consider making a tax-deductible gift today The Cleveland Cavaliers have opened their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers taking the court for Game 1 on Sunday night the Cavs once again did so without star guard Darius Garland Garland missed the final two games of the Cavaliers' first-round sweep of the Miami Heat but there was hope that some time off would allow him to get healthy enough for the start of their series against the Pacers With Garland still nursing this worrisome ailment here's all the information that you need to know MORE: Darius Garland injury threatens to ruin season unless return timeline speeds up Garland is dealing with a left toe sprain that he suffered in Game 2 of Cleveland's first-round series against Miami While he missed Games 3 and 4 of that series as the Cavaliers recorded a pair of massive blowouts to send the Heat home for the offseason the Cavaliers will need Garland healthy if they intend on achieving their goal of winning the NBA Finals despite Cleveland not having played a game since Monday MORE: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton was never overrated, and he showed the Cavs what's up in Game 1 The initial hope was that Garland would return for Game 1 against Indiana The fact that Garland was a game-time decision is somewhat encouraging but he cannot seem to do enough to get himself cleared to take the court for an actual game For now, Garland remains listed as day-to-day with this toe injury, but Jared Greenberg of NBA TV reported that there is "significant concern" regarding this ailment Greenberg would go on to say that if this were the regular season Garland would have been "shut down for at least a week to two weeks." There is "significant concern" regarding Darius Garland's toe pic.twitter.com/PH8rFAtekK Garland's next shot to get back on the court will come in Game 2 Owen Crisafulli is a freelance writer with The Sporting News He recently received his Master's in Business Administration from Nichols College after obtaining his Bachelor's degree in Sport Management while running his own sports website and he thoroughly enjoys writing about thoughts and opinions related to the game He has been a lifelong fan of the major professional teams in Boston and loves discussing all topics surrounding those teams Ricardo Sandoval is a Newsweek contributor based in Los Angeles Ricardo has been with Newsweek since 2024 and also writes for On SI for the Lakers Ricardo also is a staff writer for Dodgers Nation He is a graduate of California State University Northridge You can get in touch with Ricardo by emailing r.klein@newsweek.com You can also follow Ricardo on X @_RicardoSand either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content The Cleveland Cavaliers will host their division rival and with plenty of rest between these two teams we should expect a hard-fought and great series ahead of us More NBA news: Blockbuster Trade Proposal Has Giannis Antetokounmpo Team Up With Joel Embiid The Cavaliers will look to make their first Eastern Conference final since 2018, when LeBron James led them they will look to seek their second consecutive Eastern Conference Finals as they fell short to the eventual champions This series is sure not to disappoint; however the Cavaliers could enter this series with a enters this match listed as questionable due to a big toe sprain Garland missed the last two games for the Cavaliers and will miss his third consecutive game The Cavaliers have downgraded Garland from questionable to out Sam Merrill will start in place of Garland Garland participated fully in practice on Friday head coach Kenny Atkinson called his star's status "up in the air." However the Cavaliers are not comfortable enough to trot out their star guard for a very important Game 1 More NBA news: Former Spurs Champion Reacts to Gregg Popovich Stepping Down "The toe's a tough one," Atkinson said The 25-year-old was fantastic in the two games he played against the Miami Heat Garland suited up for 75 games and delivered steady production with 20.6 points the Cavaliers enter this one as the massive home favorites with a -8.5 spread the Cavaliers have a 71.5 percent chance to start the series 1-0 while the Pacers have a 28.5 percent chance of taking a 1-0 lead More NBA news: Nuggets' Russell Westbrook Shares Surprising Accountability After Game 7 Lakers Hold Private Meeting With Luka Doncic as Contract Rumors Swirl Former NBA Superstar Carmelo Anthony Taking on New Broadcasting Role Lakers Have Major LeBron James Problem Heading Into Offseason For more NBA news and rumors, stay tuned to Newsweek Sports Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground Newsweek is committed to journalism that is factual and fair We value your input and encourage you to rate this article Newsletters in your inbox See all