Darius Garland was sidelined for the first two games against the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference semifinals. In his absence, the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers surprisingly dropped both games and appeared to be losing their grip on the series. Garland made his return in Game 3 and guided the Cavaliers to a convincing 126-104 victory over Indiana on Friday.
In addition to missing the first two semifinal games, Garland had also been absent for the final two contests of the first round due to a sprained left big toe. With the Cavs scheduled to face Indiana again on Sunday, the team has confirmed that Garland will be available for Game 4.
His presence on Friday clearly made a difference for the Cavaliers. Although he wasn’t at full strength, Garland’s return provided a much-needed boost. He finished the game with 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting, including 2-for-7 from three-point range. He also contributed one rebound and three assists in 25 minutes of play.
In addition to Garland, the Cavaliers had been missing Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter due to injury during Game 2. Garland and Mobley made their return in Game 3 and are expected to be in uniform again for Game 4.
Darius Garland Opens Up About Injury Struggles And Outside Noise
After the Game 3 win, Darius Garland addressed his injury. The Cavs star reflected not only on his physical battle but also on the mental strain of dealing with criticism during his recovery.
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“You all don’t understand what I’m going through. Everybody had their opinion. I’m going out there to play basketball and win the series,” Garland said.
With Garland back on the court and key players regaining health, the Cavaliers look to regain control of the series and keep their playoff hopes alive.
