Cavs' Darius Garland question mark for Game 1 vs. Pacers

There is no guarantee Darius Garland will be in the lineup Sunday for Game 1 of the Cavaliers' Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers. Garland, Cleveland's All-Star point guard, missed the last two games of the first-round sweep of the Miami Heat with a sprained left big toe. The Cavs destroyed the Heat by a total of 92 points in Games 3 and 4 in Miami with Garland in street clothes. They know, however, he'll be needed to make the deep thrust into the playoffs they expect to make. The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder was on the floor Thursday at Cleveland Clinic Courts but participated only in non-contact drills. "It's day-to-day right now," coach Kenny Atkinson said. "A toe is a tough one with the pain and all that. The good thing is when we're watching him shooting, he's moving well." Garland averaged 24 points and seven assists in the first two games of the Miami series before aggravating his toe injury in Game 2. "Sure, there's some concern," Atkinson said. "I'm not going to make a judgment (now). It can go either way. "It's not like something that just goes away. It's probably something he'll have to deal with the rest of the playoffs." Heat forward Kyle Anderson made an interesting comment after the four-game sweep, saying the Cavs are better without Garland. Atkinson doesn't adhere to that line of thinking. "I think we're better with our All-Star point guard, personally," he said. Cleveland started shooting guard Sam Merrill in the two games Garland missed. He was held scoreless in Game 3 but had nine points in Game 4. In the four-game series, Merrill shot .389 from the 3-point line (7-of-18). Don't be surprised if Atkinson makes a switch if Garland is unable to play. "It's something we have to decide," he said. "We like Sam as a two-way (player) and can create advantages. He can hold his own defensively." Because Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton is a bigger guard at 6-5, 185, Cavs swingman Isaac Okoro could be called on to put a bigger body on Indiana's star player. Cleveland's Donovan Mitchell ran the point in the last two games of the Miami series. He'd welcome Garland back in the lineup. "He's a guy who can get in the paint and can make plays," he said. "Ideally, he'll be back on Sunday." Cavs forward De'Andre Hunter said Garland is needed. "He scores and he facilitates," he said. "He's a leader on this team. He's a vocal guy." Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.