INDEPENDENCE — The top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers face a huge task as they attempt to rally from a 2-0 series deficit in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
As Game 3 gets ready to tip at 7:30 p.m. May 9, the Cavs got good news about the availability of their three injured players against the the fourth-seeded Indiana Pacers.
Less than a half hour before the scheduled tipoff, the Cavs announced All-Star point guard Darius Garland, All-Star forward Evan Mobley and versatile wing De’Andre Hunter are available to play.
In a last-second 120-119 loss in Game 2, the Cavs played without Mobley (sprained left ankle), Garland (sprained left big toe) and Hunter (sprained right shooting thumb).
The Cavs listed all three as questionable May 8.
For Game 3, the Cavs will have their usual starting lineup: Garland, Mobley, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, center Jarrett Allen and small forward Max Strus.
Mobley, Garland and Hunter participated in shootaround on the morning of Friday, May 9, in Indianapolis. They can be seen shooting at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in the following video posted on social media by Cleveland Cavaliers on SI reporter Spencer Davies, formerly of the Beacon Journal:
Garland has missed four consecutive games with a sprained left big toe. He initially suffered the injury in the regular season and later aggravated April 23 in Game 2 of a first-round sweep against the Miami Heat. He jogged on a treadmill May 6 during shootaround, yet he remained out the same day during Game 2.
Mobley suffered a sprained left ankle May 4 during a 121-112 loss in Game 1. In a postgame news conference, Mobley said he “came down wrong a little bit” on a hook shot against Pacers center Myles Turner, stepping on the fellow big man’s left foot.
De’Andre Hunter injury news
Hunter suffered a sprained right thumb when it dislocated during a hard fall in Game 1 after Pacers guard-forward Bennedict Mathurin blocked his shot. Mathurin pushed Hunter in the chest during the play. After Game 1, Hunter said he expected to play in Game 2. However, Hunter sat out.
Is Donovan Mitchell on the Cavs injury list?
Those three are not the only Cavaliers dealing with an injury.
Cavs All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell has been playing through a calf strain, though, he is not listed on the team’s injury report. Atkinson said May 8 he thinks Mitchell is OK.
