On Tuesday night, the Cavaliers faced the Pacers in Game 2 against the Eastern Conference semi-finals. In Game 1, Cleveland lost to Indiana 121-112.
For Game 2, the Cavaliers didn’t have Darius Garland, Evan Mobley and DeAndre Hunter. Cleveland led 20 points on Tuesday, but the Pacers never gave up. There was a crazy sequence at the end of the game, with the Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton defeating three games. ESPN's Stephen A. Smith accused Cavs' Darius Garland of not playing on Wednesday.
When will Darius Garland return to the Cavaliers?
Stephen A.
“You are on the verge of elimination.
(🎥 @firsttake )
– nbacentral (@thedunkcentral) May 7, 2025
On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith participated in the show he did every day for the first time. Staff are discussing last night's Pacers vs. Celtics. Smith summoned the Knight PG Darius Garland because it was impossible to play. He knew that a toe injury could be “very painful”, but he thought Garland was confused when he couldn’t play. The 25-year-old missed four games with a toe injury. Garland has not been in the competition since the second game of the first round.
Stephen A. He details how Indiana’s backcourt succeeded in the first two games of the series. Donovan Mitchell of Cleveland was left with most of the heavy lifting. He scored 48 points, five rebounds, nine assists and four steals. Despite Mitchell’s best efforts, the Cavaliers still lost. They now beat the Pacers 2-0, and Darius Garland has not played since April 23.
In Wednesday's first attack, Stephen A. TNT sideline reporter Jared Greenberg noted that Garland's injury usually leaves him two weeks in the regular season. It's been two weeks since Garland last played for Cleveland. Will he be in the third game Friday night?
