Cavaliers list Garland as questionable for Game 1 of series against Indiana

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) – Darius Garland is listed as questionable for the Cleveland Cavaliers going into the first game of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night.

The All-Star guard is dealing with a sprained left big toe. He missed the final two games of the Cavaliers’ first-round sweep of the Miami Heat after being out for the final two games of the regular season due to the same injury.

Garland did not practice on Saturday after going through a full-contact session on Friday. Coach Kenny Atkinson said the status of the 6-foot-1, sixth-year pro will likely be a game-time decision.

“We´re just in this kind of area where you just got to kind of see day-by-day and see how it feels tomorrow morning,” Atkinson said after Saturday’s practice.

Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season. He scored 27 points in the Cavaliers’ 121-100 victory over the Heat on April 20 in the opening game of the series.

Atkinson said Garland is likely going to have to deal with the injury for the rest of the playoffs.

“The toe´s a tough one,” Atkinson said. “There´s pain and all that. But the good thing, when we watch him shooting right now, he´s moving well.”

Sam Merrill or Isaac Okoro would get the start if Garland is unable to play. Merrill has started the past two games.

Cavs have one primary focus area ahead of Eastern Conference semifinals vs. Indiana Pacers

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Late Tuesday night, following Indiana’s come-from-behind win that solidified a showdown with the top-seeded Cavs in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson started detailed preparations for his newest opponent.

He came up with a maxim for this best-of-seven series, one he has preached ad nauseam over the last week.

Win the first three steps.

Atkinson is borrowing that line from longtime mentor Mike D’Antoni. But it’s fitting against the speedy Pacers who, according to the Cavaliers’ internal metrics, play faster than anyone else in the NBA — even though the league’s official pace rating put them seventh during the regular season and fifth among playoff teams.

“They can’t beat us those first three steps. They can’t beat us out of the blocks,” Atkinson reiterated following Saturday’s final practice ahead of Game 1. “Put our track shoes on. We have the athleticism, we have the speed, it’s just the initial shock of them doing it so consistently. They run more than anybody in the league. That’s not just from a visual. There’s facts behind that, right? Physical facts. I think in the Knicks series last year, they kind of wore ‘em out. Our guys are well aware, but we’re going to have to feel that and get accustomed to it. I think they have the message to understand.”

Cavaliers ready for fast-paced NBA Playoffs series against Pacers when it begins on Sunday night

CLEVELAND (AP) – Kenny Atkinson has one simple message for his Cleveland Cavaliers going into their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers.

Put your track shoes on.

The top-seeded Cavaliers had the NBA’s top offense in the regular season, averaging 121.9 points. The fourth-seeded Pacers averaged 117.4 points (seventh-best), but have one of the quickest teams in the league, and like to go full throttle.

We have the athleticism and speed, it´s just the initial shock of them doing it so consistently,” Atkinson said. “I give (coach) Rick Carlisle and their group so much credit because it plays into their personnel. The message to our guys is how resilient we can be with our running. We do it three times, they’re going to do it four. Can we do it for longer?”

The matchup everyone will be watching when the series starts Sunday night at Rocket Arena will be between Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton and Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell.

Haliburton – who averaged 17.6 points against Milwaukee – is averaging a playoff-best 11.6 assists per game running the Pacers’ five out offense. He also was the first Indiana player in 11 years to begin a playoff series with four straight double-doubles.