The Cleveland Cavaliers are heading into their playoff opener against the Indiana Pacers with a gut punch: star point guard Darius Garland won’t suit up for Game 1. A sprained big toe has the 25-year-old All-Star on the bench, leaving the Cavs to lean on their depth in a high-stakes matchup at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Garland’s absence, confirmed by the team on May 4, 2025, stems from an injury that’s been nagging him for weeks. He sat out Cleveland’s final regular-season games, with the toe issue flaring up during a late-April practice. Medical staff evaluated him daily, but the swelling and pain haven’t eased enough for him to hit the court. The Cavs, cautious with their franchise cornerstone, listed him as day-to-day, with no firm timeline for his return. Game 2 on May 6 remains a possibility, but nothing’s set in stone.
The starting lineup gets a shake-up without Garland’s slick playmaking and 21.6 points per game. Donovan Mitchell will shoulder more of the scoring load, while Sam Merrill steps into the starting shooting guard spot. Max Strus, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen round out the first five, tasked with containing Indiana’s fast-paced attack led by Tyrese Haliburton. Cleveland’s bench, bolstered by Caris LeVert and Georges Niang, will need to step up to fill the void.
Garland’s injury isn’t new to the Cavs’ radar. He missed time in late April for the same toe problem, skipping pre-game warmups before a game against Miami on April 26. The team’s medical team has been working overtime, but the playoffs wait for no one. Cleveland, seeded fourth in the East with a 48-34 record, faces a Pacers squad that’s hungry after a 47-35 campaign.
The Cavs haven’t commented beyond the official injury report, but the mood in Cleveland is gritty determination. Fans packing the arena will be screaming for Mitchell and company to hold the fort. Game 1 tips off on May 5, 2025, with the series’ first chapter now a tougher climb.