If the Cleveland Cavaliers are going to pick up a road playoff win on Saturday, they’ll have to do it without the services of Darius Garland.
The two-time All-Star guard was ruled out for Game 3 against the Heat in Miami due to a lingering toe injury, the team announced pre-game.
Garland had battled the same injury toward the end of the regular season and appeared to aggravate it in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s Game 2 win on Wednesday.
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Garland would plan to test the health of his toe prior to tip-off on Saturday, but the 25-year-old did not take the court for his usual pre-game warmup slot.
The starting guard has been an impact player as Cleveland has started the first round with a 2-0 lead heading into Game 3, averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 assists on 51.6/ 41.2/ 90.0 per cent shooting splits.
Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists through 75 regular-season appearances as he helped the Cavs to the East’s top seed and a 64-18 record — Cleveland’s second-best win total in franchise history.
Fifth-year guard Sam Merrill will start in Garland’s place.
Game 3 gets going at 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 am PT.
from Sportsnet.ca
via i9bet
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