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Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland has a chance to make season debut against 76ers
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- Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland has a chance to make season debut against 76ers
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers welcomed the return of an All-Star guard in their win over the Atlanta Hawks . They could be adding yet another All-Star to the back court soon.
Darius Garland , who has yet to make his season debut after undergoing offseason toe surgery , has a chance to return to the floor Nov. 5 against the Philadelphia 76ers . Donovan Mitchell was able to rejoin the starting lineup Nov. 2.
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Garland was sidelined during the playoffs last season due to the toe injury, which then required offseason surgery. He returned for the end of the second-round series loss against the Indiana Pacers , in which he was said to be playing through a great deal of pain , but he wasn't able to be the same offensive player, as he couldn't push off that toe like he normally would.
As of the Cavaliers' shootaround on Nov. 4, Garland was still listed as questionable, and his status for Wednesday's game against the 76ers remains up in the air. But while no declarations have been made, this is the first game in which Garland's return has been said to be possible.
"[He's] close," said Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson. "I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I'd just keep it as really close."
Nov 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland, left, and guard Donovan Mitchell (45) react against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Darius Garland toe injury update
Last season, Garland earned his second career All-Star selection while averaging 20.6 points and 6.7 assists on 47.2 percent shooting from the floor and 40.1 percent shooting from 3-point range. He also finished sixth in Clutch Player of the Year voting.
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But his absence during the beginning of the Pacers series was immensely detrimental to the Cavs, who struggled with Indiana's defensive pressure without him.
Once Garland does return, the next step will be for Atkinson to ease his minutes back to normal levels.
"I just think it's just going to be that we just need the green light, if that makes sense. And then once you get the green light, we're going to have to feel this out with this injury," Atkinson said. "We'll have to feel it out. ... It's not going to be like he's going to play 12 minutes. We feel good about his conditioning, where he is. If he does play, is it going to be 32? No, but I think it'll be a decent amount of minutes."
Along with Garland and then Mitchell, the Cavs have also been without Sam Merrill (hip), Jarrett Allen (finger) and Max Strus (foot surgery).
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Darius Garland nearing return from injury for Cavs as they face 76ers
