Cavaliers' Darius Garland Sidelined for Game 4 Against Heat

MIAMI – Darius Garland, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ All-Star guard, will rest for a few more days after being designated as unavailable for Game 4 of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series against the Miami Heat on Monday night.

Garland is dealing with an injury to his left big toe.

The Cavaliers began Monday’s game with a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Should a Game 5 be needed, it would take place in Cleveland on Wednesday. However, if Cleveland clinches the series with a victory in Game 4, they will have a break until their next matchup in the Eastern Conference semifinals against either Indiana or Milwaukee, which won’t commence until Saturday at the earliest.

The injury to Garland was worsened towards the end of Game 2, prompting him to miss Cleveland’s dominant 121-84 victory in Game 3 on Saturday. Before Monday’s game, Garland attempted some light activities on the court but was ultimately benched again by the Cavaliers’ decision-makers.

“I’ve mentioned this before: I don’t see this as a lengthy eight-week recovery,” commented Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson. “It’s mainly about managing the pain, especially since the toe faces constant impact.”

On Sunday, Garland was among approximately ten Cavaliers to attend an optional workout at the University of Miami, although he refrained from any scrimmaging during the session.

In the first two games of the series, Garland posted impressive stats, averaging 24 points and leading with seven assists per game.

During the season, Garland has averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists for the Cavaliers. The team has achieved a 62-15 record with Garland playing this season, including playoff games, and holds a 5-3 record in his absence.