The Cleveland Cavaliers face a pivotal Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers tonight, grappling with significant injury setbacks. Key players Evan Mobley (ankle), Darius Garland (toe), and De’Andre Hunter (thumb) have all been ruled out, leaving the team without essential contributors on both ends of the court.
In Game 1, the Cavaliers suffered a 121–112 loss, with Donovan Mitchell scoring 33 points but struggling from beyond the arc (1-for-11). The absence of Garland, Mobley, and Hunter was felt, as the team’s offensive rhythm and defensive stability waned. Mobley, the NBA Defensive Player of the Year, had been averaging 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs, while Hunter contributed 12.6 points per game off the bench.
Head Coach Kenny Atkinson has expressed concerns over the physicality displayed by the Pacers in Game 1, which he believes contributed to the injuries sustained by Mobley and Hunter. He emphasized the need for the league to define the line between acceptable playoff physicality and excessive force to protect player safety.
With the series shifting to Indiana for Games 3 and 4, the Cavaliers aim to even the series at 1-1 tonight. The game is scheduled to tip off at 7:00 PM EST at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.
