Following a tough loss in game 1, the injured roster further complicates the Cleveland Cavaliers’ situation. The Cavaliers will possibly play the upcoming matchup against the Indiana Pacers without their key trio, including Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter, and Evan Morey. Coach Kenny Atkinson has listed all three as questionable, indicating a significant doubt on their chances of being present on the court.
The Cleveland Cavaliers lost their first semifinal at home by 121-112, struggling with poor shooting and defensive errors. Adding to more complications, the unexpected injury of the scorers, Mobley and Hunter, occurred in the fourth quarter on plays that frustrated coach Kenny Atkinson due to a lack of foul calls.
Major Concerns Arising For Game 2 Availability
With just a few minutes remaining, Mobley‘s ankle injury occurred when he landed on Myles Turner’s foot after a made hook shot. The coach thought it should have been a foul as Turner didn’t give Mobley any position to land. Soon after, Hunter suffered a dislocated thumb during a dunk attempt against Bennedict Mathurin. The referee reviewed the play and considered the contact legal, which surprised the coach.
Regarding the non-call on Hunter’s injury, Atkinson expressed, “I felt he got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb.” He further added, “I’m just like in shock. Maybe I don’t know the rules.”
Garland, who rejoined his left toe during the Miami series, has been absent since the first round’s second game. Even though he was shooting at practice, his current condition remains uncertain, as Atkinson said, “It’s tough to gauge where he is.”
Despite Donovan Mitchell’s current strong form and ability to lead the offense, the Cavaliers will struggle to maintain their defensive edge if Mobley and Hunter remain sidelined. Moreover, Cleveland’s offense in game 1 struggled a lot without Garland’s presence as their players mostly tried to score independently, which Indiana defended well and used to score quickly on fast breaks.
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