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Cavs guards Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell 'all good' after injury scares vs. Wizards
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- Cavs guards Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell 'all good' after injury scares vs. Wizards
CLEVELAND — Cavaliers fans can let out a collective sigh of relief.
Starting guards Darius Garland and Donovan Mitchell were laughing and joking with each other in the home team's locker room after experiencing injury scares during Tuesday night's 118-87 win over the Washington Wizards.
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"I'm good. I'm alive," Garland said.
"In the moment, it's scary, but we're all good," Mitchell said.
Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) is fouled by Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas during the second half, Dec. 3, 2024, in Cleveland. Garland was injured on the play and did not return.
As Garland pursued a lob pass from forward Evan Mobley under the basket, his head collided with the left arm of Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas. Garland remained on the floor for a few moments and immediately went to the locker room with 8:08 left in the third quarter. He was evaluated by the team's medical staff and didn't return to the game. He had 12 points, three assists and a steal in 17 minutes for the Cavs (19-3).
"I think he's fine," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "I just looked at him. He gave me the thumbs up, and I don't think he'll miss any time at all. I think he's fine."
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Earlier in the third quarter, Mitchell ran into Valanciunas as the big man set a screen for the Wizards (2-17). Mitchell headed for the locker room with his right arm dangling at his side with 10:42 left in the third quarter, but he returned with 8:34 remaining in the same quarter. A five-time All-Star selection, Mitchell compiled 19 points, seven assists, five rebounds and three steals in 28 minutes.
Mitchell said he suffered "a little stinger in the shoulder," adding there's a reason he doesn't play football.
"I should have known not to run into [Valanciunas'] screen, but sometimes I take the challenge to try to run through a guy's chest," Mitchell said. "But some people you just don't, and he's one of them."
Washington Wizards center Jonas Valanciunas controls the ball against Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) during the first half, Dec. 3, 2024, in Cleveland.
Valanciunas is listed as 7 feet and 270 pounds, Mitchell 6-3 and 215 pounds and Garland 6-1 and 192 pounds.
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"Valanciunas, he sets great screens. They're just punishing," Atkinson said. "We don't realize this game, especially for guards, with all the pick-and-rolls in the game, the force of the screens, it's tough. But that's the nature of the game.
"It's part of what you have to do as a perimeter player is take those hits and try to avoid them the best you can. But Valanciunas is one of the best screeners in the league. He got us a couple times."
The Cavs are fortunate the consequences weren't worse.
More Cleveland Cavaliers coverage: 'I'm no punk': Darius Garland is 'accepting the challenge' from Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson on defense
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs' Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell 'all good' after injury scares
