“We’ve seen it done before.” This is what Darius Garland said after the Cleveland Cavaliers were dismantled in game 4 against the Indiana Pacers. The 25-year-old Cleveland point guard referenced the team’s iconic comeback in the 2016 NBA Championship Finals against the Warriors. The Cavaliers find themselves in a similar position right now as they have fallen to a 3-1 deficit, and need to hit back.
While Cleveland has risen from the ashes before, that team led by LeBron James wasn’t as hard-hit by injuries as this season’s Cavs roster. So, with the odds already stacked against them, their job just got a little trickier.
While the No. 1-seeded Cleveland has not been playing like themselves lately, untimely injuries have made matters worse. It all started when Darius Garland sprained his big toe in the first round against Miami. The injury caused him to miss several games in both the series. With their starting point guard out, the Cavaliers sailed through the Heat but struggled big time against the Pacers.
However, the good news is that Garland has now fully recovered from the injury and is back in the starting five. This is huge for the Cavs, as they gear up for what is their biggest game of their season. The All-Star guard is the backbone of this team and has been averaging 19.8 points and 5.8 assists in the postseason.
So it will be great to have him back. However, there’s more good news for fans, as Evan Mobley is also not on the injury report. The 23-year-old Defensive Player of the Year missed Game 2 after dislocating his right thumb, but he’s successfully recovered from that injury, giving Cleveland fans a sigh of relief.
Having Mobley on the court will help solve Cleveland’s defensive struggles and also prove to be massive in locking down the likes of Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin. However, while Darius Garland and Evan Mobley are fit, Cleveland’s injury problems don’t end there. In fact, they suffered their biggest blow ahead of a must-win Game 5.
Cleveland’s franchise player, Donovan Mitchell, suffered an ankle injury on Sunday.
Feb 20, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guards Darius Garland (10) and Donovan Mitchell (45) react during the second half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
The injury did not happen during the game, but instead occurred while Mitchell was warming up for the second half. The All-Star guard did not return and left the entire Cleveland fanbase holding their breath. Well, there’s yet to be an update on Spida’s availability with HC Kenny Atkinson saying he has “no idea” about the severity of the injury.
That’s tough for the Cavs, as Donovan Mitchell has been the only bright spot for the team, averaging 34 points along with five rebounds and 4.5 assists. Mitchell is currently on a day-to-day basis and will be a game-day decision.
Cleveland’s probable starting five for tonight’s do-or-die Game 5
For most of the season, Kenny Atkinson has stuck with a similar starting lineup. Well, you cannot blame him because that lineup has earned his team a 64-win season, which they followed up with a first-round 4-0 sweep over Miami.
But now, Atkinson and the Cavs find themselves in hot water as they face a 3-1 deficit against Indiana. To make things worse, they might not have their best player, Donovan Mitchell, available tonight. So, the onus of saving the team from elimination lies with Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, both of whom will have to play massive roles tonight.
So, here’s how the Cavaliers could start:
Position
Starter
PG
Darius Garland
SG
Donovan Mitchell (questionable)
SF
Max Strus
PF
Evan Mobley
C
Jarrett Allen
There’s no doubt that this is an all-hands-on-deck kind of situation for Cleveland. Will the Cavaliers be able to hold their own tonight? Only time will tell. But the presence of Donovan Mitchell will play a huge role in that, as we eagerly awaits tip-off at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
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