Cavaliers guard Darius Garland plans to return to action on Wednesday from the jaw injury that has sidelined him since December 14, league sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). Cleveland will host the Pistons on Wednesday night.
Garland fractured his jaw in a collision with Kristaps Porzingis and was on an all-liquid diet with his jaw wired shut for several weeks as he recovered. Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com said earlier this month that the star guard was aiming to return before the end of January and was the first to report (subscriber link) that Wednesday was a target date.
Fedor wrote on Monday that “no decisions have been made and there are a few conversations that must take place first” before Garland is cleared to play on Wednesday, but Charania’s reporting suggests the 24-year-old is on track to play vs. Detroit as long as there are no setbacks.
It’s great news for the Cavaliers, who haven’t just been treading water since losing Garland and Evan Mobley to major injuries in mid-December — they’ve been thriving, putting up a 14-4 record without those two starters and then winning Mobley’s first game back on Monday vs. the Clippers.
After an up-and-down start to the season, the Cavs are now 28-16, putting them just a half-game back of the 29-16 Sixers for No. 3 in the East. With Mobley back in action and Garland set to return this week, the club is well positioned to make a push for a top playoff seed in the second half.
Prior to his injury, Garland was averaging 20.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in 34.0 minutes per night across 20 appearances (all starts). He was also shooting a career-best 47.0% from the floor.
Wow! Reading what the Cavs have been thru, then seeing them up there right now in the standings is eye-opening. They just might be special.
Watching them during the stretch has been like watching the 2015 Hawks. When they were called the “Spurs of the East”. Just everybody operating and moving as a unit, with plenty of shooting and defense. Sam Merril giving off big Korver vibes, Jarrett Allen has been on par with prime Horford during this stretch. Except unlike them, the Cavs have another gear since they were missing their 2nd and 3rd options.
Cavs are fools gold. Trading Lauri Markannen was a mistake. DG overrated, and overpaid. CAVS are better with him coming off the bench.
Cav’s appear to be loaded right now. As long as they continue to go 11-12 deep they will be hard to beat. What they did by going 14 of 18 without Garland and Mobley is the kind of thing Title winning teams do. If they can successfully reintegrate Garland and Mobley they should be a handful for any team.
Dealing Markkanen, Sexton,Agbaji and 3 picks was a mistake. It left them with no bench to speak of. That problem has since been corrected. As has the lack of a Small Forward. You are passing judgement on last years team. This team is better constructed and is just getting started after going 15 and 4 the last 19 games.
Cavs have had a top 5 bench since those players went out and have been one of the hottest teams. They now got deeper and getting back a 24yr old former AS. The Cavs overpaid but it was in draft picks by one or two picks. Donovan Mitchell has been a top 10 All-NBA player.
Mitchell gas been great. That said Markkanen and Sexton aren’t bad either. Last year they followed a very clear pattern of winning 3 of every 5 games . Last year the starters dominated but every time they left the floor the bottom fell out. This year the bench issue is fixed. Losing Mobley and Garland should have ended their season. Instead it made them better. Look for them to take either 3 or 2 spot in the East if they can stay healthy.