CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Cavaliers, already down 1-0 in the series, face serious questions about their injuries heading into Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Indiana Pacers.Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (ankle), and De’Andre Hunter (thumb) will be listed as questionable for Tuesday night’s game. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson expressed “genuine concern” about the availability of the latter two and used the word “doubtful” when discussing their status after Monday’s practice.
Mobley and Hunter were injured on consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s Game 1 loss. Mobley fell awkwardly after scoring a 2-point shot in the paint with 8:10 remaining, planting his left foot near the foot of Pacers center Myles Turner before falling to the floor. Mobley was walking with a limp in the Cavaliers’ locker room after the game.
In the Cavs’ next possession, Hunter drove towards the basket before being blocked by Pacers guard Bennedict Mathurin with 7:44 remaining. Hunter fell hard to the ground and the Cavs called a timeout, while Atkinson challenged the call, but the officiating crew determined that there was no foul on the play and the call on the court stood.
Atkinson questioned that fouls were not called in the two plays, which, he said, crossed the line of physical competition.
I don’t think they were dirty plays, but I think they crossed a line of physicality. That line we’ve been talking about, where it became excessive. I don’t think this is Indiana’s fault; I have a lot of respect for how they play. But the fact is, that’s up to the referees. Maybe they weren’t missed calls, and maybe I’m misinterpreting the rules, but I have a problem when two of our best players are doubtful for tomorrow’s game. It’s hard for me to understand that.
Kenny Atkinson
Later, Atkinson clarified that the three players will be listed as questionable, calling their official designation “semantic”.
The top-seeded Cavs lost Game 1 121-112 at home, and they also have uncertainty about the status of Garland, who missed his third consecutive playoff game due to a left toe injury. The Cavs had a video session and a light shooting workout on Monday, and Atkinson said Garland’s status for Game 2 was “difficult to assess.”
But the Cavs’ injury report has expanded, and the team could miss three key rotation players on Tuesday.
It’s a tough blow, but I think we realized we can do it with the guys we have no matter what.
Jarrett Allen
Kenny is talking about that all year, about how we have a deep roster. We have a lot of guys who can step up at the right time.
