Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland is out for Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers, and it appears his status will be worth monitoring moving forward.
BREAKING: Darius Garland is OUT for Game 1 against the Pacers
His toe injury is a "significant concern" for the Cavs, per @JaredSGreenberg pic.twitter.com/PQnpnXxxyv
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) May 4, 2025
According to NBA reporter Jared Greenberg, Garland would be shut down for a stretch if this were still the regular season, but he has a chance to play in Game 2 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
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 4, 2025
“Darius Garland, dealing with a frustrating injury, a sprain of his left big toe which is keeping him out for a third straight game, an injury that requires rest to heal,” Greenberg said. “The good news, I’ve been told, is there is no structural damage. However, Garland continues to battle significant swelling and pain.
“He will remain day-to-day and could play in Game 2 on Tuesday. In fact, he just came out onto the court. I talked to him briefly, and he feels confident that he will be able to play Tuesday.
“However, if this was the regular season, 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 with confidence.”
Garland played in the first two games of Cleveland’s series against the Miami Heat, but he did not play in either of the Cavs’ wins on the road in Miami.
In Game 1 against the Heat, Garland was terrific. He scored 27 points on 10-of-17 shooting (5-of-9 from 3) to go along with three rebounds, five assists and one steal. The Cavs went on to win that game by 21 points.
Then, in Game 2, Garland had another 20-point performance, scoring 21 points on 6-of-14 shooting (2-of-8 from 3). He also added two rebounds and nine assists.
Without Garland for Game 1 of the second round, the Cavs are looking at Ty Jerome to handle some of the ball-handling duties on offense. A Sixth Man of the Year candidate this season, Jerome has stepped up without Garland and actually had a double-double in Game 3 against Miami with 13 points and 11 assists.
If Garland is unable to return to the lineup in Game 2 on Tuesday, his next chance to play would be in Indiana. The Cavs will play Game 3 against Indiana on Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Hopefully, the Cavs will get their two-time All-Star guard back in the lineup sooner rather than later as they attempt to make a deep playoff run. Garland has been such a key part of Cleveland’s turnaround in recent years and certainly deserves to be along for the ride in the 2025 postseason.
