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Cavaliers need to adjust without Darius Garland in a hurry. Opinion
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- Cavaliers need to adjust without Darius Garland in a hurry. Opinion
CLEVELAND — In terms of Darius Garland's projected time frame to return , it's understandable why Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said he feels as if the team has "dodged a bullet."
In terms of a big-picture view, the Cavs were dealt another blow and are facing a serious predicament — again — because of Garland's health .
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The Cavs were crushed 136-104 by the defending NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 19 at Rocket Arena , absorbing an embarrassing loss during one of the league's marquee Martin Luther King Jr. Day games in front of a national TV audience.
Without two-time All-Star point guard Garland, the Cavs were stagnant and sloppy on offense. All-NBA guard Donovan Mitchell was thrust into the primary point guard role and neutralized by all-world Thunder defender Luguentz Dort . Mitchell scored a team-high 19 points, but the production came on 5-of-18 shooting from the field (1 of 9 on 3-pointers).
The Cavs committed 21 turnovers compared with 13 by the Thunder. Cleveland was outscored 23-8 in points off turnovers. The Cavs struggled with decision-making, touch around the rim and shot selection. They finished 34-of-91 shooting (37.4%) from the field (8 of 35 on 3-pointers for 22.9%). The Thunder went 50-of-90 shooting (55.6%) from the floor (23 of 47 on 3s for 48.9%) and were led by guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 's game-high 30 points and center Chet Holmgren 's 28.
No one should overreact to one game, and the Thunder have the league's top defensive rating (105.2) and best record (36-8). Yet, the Cavs (24-20) have left themselves with little margin for error by underachieving in the first half of the season, so they don't exactly have the luxury of taking their time to discover, or rediscover, the best approach with Garland out.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland celebrates after making a 3-pointer against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Jan. 10, 2026, in Cleveland.
Of course, the Cavs can win with Garland sidelined. They are 11-7 without him this season, and they just prevailed with him in street clothes on Jan. 16, when wing Jaylon Tyson scored a career-high 39 points in a 117-115 triumph at the Philadelphia 76ers .
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But doing it consistently or against a legitimate contender? It's tough to view those as realistic possibilities.
"We miss him a lot," Tyson said of Garland.
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The Cavs, as currently constructed, need Garland to reach their desired destination. If Garland cannot get right physically, the Cavs won't experience a miraculous turnaround amid unmet expectations and mount an inspiring run to the NBA Finals. And trading him before the Feb. 5 deadline wouldn't make sense with his value depreciated by those problematic toes.
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You're probably rolling your eyes right now at the suggestion the Cavs could even dream about the Finals this coming June. The skepticism would be justified, but for the sake of never say never, let's review the record of the Indiana Pacers through 44 games last season. If you guessed 24-20, ding, ding, ding.
Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland laughs at a fan after the ball hit him and spilled his drink during a game against the Utah Jazz on Jan. 12, 2026, in Cleveland.
Back in the real world, Garland is expected to miss at least a week with what the Cavs announced on Jan. 18 has been diagnosed as a grade 1 sprain of his right big toe. Garland will be reevaluated in seven to 10 days, according to the team's statement.
Even if the best-case scenario were to materialize and Garland were to return to game action in a week, he won't be at full strength because he hasn't been all season, not after undergoing surgery June 9 on his left big toe. Yes, Garland has had horrible luck with his big toes the past two seasons.
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"For us as a group, unfortunately, we've been in this position before," Mitchell said. "He's had some freak injuries."
If you have listened to Atkinson describe the first injury, you know the phrase "turf toe" has been used. If the sprain, or tear, is severe enough, it can result in surgery, like it did in Garland's case. After suffering the initial left toe injury last regular season, Garland aggravated it in the playoffs. His inability to access his elite movement skills certainly didn't help the Cavs as they were steamrolled in the Eastern Conference semifinals by the Pacers, who ultimately fell to the Thunder in Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Atkinson didn't want to use Garland's status as an excuse for the Thunder thrashing the Cavs, and the coach shouldn't have played the card, either. Two Thunder starters — guard Jalen Williams (hamstring) and center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf) — were ruled out, and injuries limited forward Jaylin Williams and guard Alex Caruso to seven minutes apiece.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guards Donovan Mitchell (45) and Darius Garland (10) celebrate after Mitchell made a 3-pointer against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Jan. 8, 2025, in Cleveland.
Although this Cavs season has been significantly shaped by injuries, their woes have gone deeper than the team's collective health. Still, Garland, small forward Max Strus (offseason left foot surgery) and shooting guard Sam Merrill (right hand sprain) being out doesn't help Cleveland's cause.
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Against the Thunder, the Cavs started Mitchell, Tyson, forward Evan Mobley , center Jarrett Allen and forward Dean Wade in his first outing back from a five-game hiatus caused by a knee contusion.
Backup point guard Craig Porter Jr. logged just six minutes in the first half against the Thunder after starting in the win over the Sixers on Jan. 16. Porter is an option Atkinson ought to further explore to lessen some of Mitchell's ballhandling responsibilities during life without Garland. The ripple effect? The Cavs would need effective minutes off the bench from veteran Lonzo Ball or rookie Tyrese Proctor .
"We just got to do it by committee," Atkinson said.
The absolute last thing the Cavs need is Mitchell trying to do too much to compensate for Garland's absence and becoming the next notable player to land on the dreaded injury report.
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Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com . On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs again adjusting to life without Darius Garland due to injury
