The Cleveland Cavaliers are facing a tough challenge as they head into Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers with key players sidelined due to injuries. Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter will all miss the game, leaving the Cavaliers short-handed.
Donovan Mitchell, Ty Jerome, Max Strus, Dean Wade, and Jarrett Allen will be starting in their place, with Jerome and Wade making their first postseason starts. Garland, a two-time All-Star guard, has been out since Game 2 of the first round due to a toe injury, missing his fourth consecutive game on Tuesday.
Mobley, a first-time All-Star and the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, suffered an ankle injury in Game 1 against the Pacers. Despite playing through the injury, he was visibly hobbled. Hunter also sustained a thumb injury in the same game after a controversial non-call on a play involving Mathurin.
Despite the injuries, the Cavaliers are determined to bounce back from their Game 1 loss and even up the series before heading to Indianapolis. It will be a challenging task without key players, but the team is ready to step up and face the Pacers head-on.