Cavaliers: Season in jeopardy as three key players remain questionable with injuries

INDEPENDENCE — The Cavaliers' season is perilously hanging on by its fingertips heading into Game 3 in Indianapolis. Yet, all three of Cleveland's injured players — point guard Darius Garland (sprained left big toe), power forward Evan Mobley (sprained left ankle) and forward De'Andre Hunter (dislocated right thumb — remain questionable for tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Indiana Pacers have a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, but all hope is not lost. The Cavs have won three playoff series when trailing 0-2: the 2007 Eastern Conference final vs. Detroit, the 2016 NBA Finals vs. Golden State and the 2018 Eastern Conference final vs. Boston. If the injured players remain out, which is quite possible, Dean Wade will likely stay in at power forward and Ty Jerome at point guard. "We have a next-man-up mentality," Wade said. "We have enough pieces to make it happen. We have no excuses. We have to compete at the highest level." The Cavs didn't practice Thursday at Cleveland Clinic Courts. Coach Kenny Atkinson said it was more of a shootaround. "(The injured players) all touched the ball," he said. "We didn't do anything live. We're hoping for the best. We're playing a guessing game. It's frustrating for all of us." Guard Donovan Mitchell complained after the game with having a calf injury, but he's not on the injury report. Garland has missed the last four postseason games. Atkinson said the decision to play is shared by the medical staff and the players. "(Garland) desperately wants to get on the court," he said. "I support him 100% whichever way he goes." The All-Star point guard has been out with the toe injury he aggravated it in Game 2 of the Miami series. His ballhandling and playmaking have been missed desperately in the series. Without him, a lot has been placed on Jerome's shoulder. Jerome fell apart in Game 2's 120-119 loss, when he shot 1-for-14 from the field, including 0-for-4 from the 3-point line, and scored two points. In the two games against the Pacers, he's shooting .265 from the floor (9-for-34) and .125 from distance (1-for-8) while averaging 11 points. In six postseason games, though, he's averaging 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.0 assists. "You learn lessons from these games and then flush it," Jerome said. "We have to find a way to get back to ourselves." Jerome said of his 14 shot attempts, he routinely makes nine or 10. "It happens sometimes," Jerome said. "I'm the same person after a good game or a bad game. If you're in this (league), you go through a ton of adversity." Atkinson said several things led up to the Cavs blowing a 20-point lead in Game 2. "There were coaching decisions, players decisions and referee decisions," he said. "All three made mistakes." Atkinson added after the game many of his players ran out of gas. He said the Cavs are in tip-top shape. "This is speed, movement and sprints," Atkinson said. "It's a different style of play. We have adjusted to it. It's not just physical. It's also mental." Allen's prowess Cavs center Jarrett Allen is shooting an NBA-high .791 from the field (34-for-43) in the postseason. Allen is also shooting 23 of 23 from the foul line in the playoffs, which is one shy of tying his overall career high for consecutive free throws. Good talkers Mitchell earned a spot on the NBA's All-Interview Team, the Professional Basketball Writers Assocation announced Thursday. Others are Stephen Curry and Draymond Green of Golden State, Kevin Durant of Phoenix and Giannis Antetokounmpo of Milwaukee Bucks. Two-minute Report There were three missed calls in Game 2, according to the NBA's Last Two Minute report. The first was on the athletic putback slam by Pacers guard Aaron Nesmith on the missed free throw by forward Pascal Siakam with 47.2 seconds left. It closed Indiana's deficit to 119-114, but it shouldn't have counted, according to the daily report from the league. Nesmith entered the 3-point line prior to Siakam releasing the ball. As it turned out, Jerome also got into the lane too early. The basket should have been waved off, and it should have been a jump ball at midcourt. On the biggest play of the game with 12 seconds left, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton split two free throws. On the second, he stepped over the plane of the free-throw line before the ball hit the rim. Several other players jumped into the lane before his shot hit the rim, so it should have been a jump ball at midcourt. Instead, Haliburton grabbed the offensive rebound and hit the game-winning 3-point shot with 1.1 seconds left. The other missed call was on a non-called defensive three seconds on Mitchell for being in the paint without actively guarding an opponent for longer than three seconds at the 15-second mark. Jerome fouled Haliburton, which led to the aforementioned free throws. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.