Cavs Face Potential Game 3 Loss of Star Guard

The Cleveland Cavaliers It could be without their All-Star point guard on Saturday afternoon. Darius Garland joined the injury list on Friday before Game 3 against the Miami Heat. He is officially considered questionable due to a left big toe sprain.

Garland previously appeared on the injury report due to a toe strain. He missed two regular-season games against the Indiana Pacers as a result of this injury designation. April 10 and April 13 .

Garland has experienced a significant resurgence during this postseason relative to his performance last year. Currently, he is scoring an average of 24 points per game with shooting percentages at .516 from the field, .412 from three-point range, and an impressive .900 from the free-throw line. Additionally, he is dishing out about seven assists each contest in the two playoff matches he has participated in so far. Consequently, Cleveland has been performing exceptionally well whenever Garland is on the court in this series. +11.9 net rating ).

We'll find out how head coach Kenny Atkinson manages the starting lineup should Garland be unavailable. Given past performances during the regular season, it’s possible that either Sam Merrill or Isaac Okoro might step into Garland's role. Furthermore, Ty Jerome’s playing time is expected to rise since the Cavaliers will require additional assistance with ball handling if Garland sits out.

The Cavaliers hold the advantage with a 2-0 series lead. It seems unlikely for them to lose four out of the next five games against the Heat, who they possess significantly more talent than, even sans Garland. Nonetheless, overcoming their adversaries might still prove difficult for them. Boston Celtics If Garland isn't fully fit later in the playoffs.

Making sure that Garland is healthy for the remainder of the postseason run should be Cleveland’s top priority.

The sole Cavalier listed as injured is Garland. Meanwhile, for the Heat, Kevin Love is out due to personal reasons, and Terry Rozier is sidelined with an ankle issue.