Evan Mobley, De'Andre Hunter Injuries Are 'Real Concern' for Cavs Ahead of G2, HC Says
The Cleveland Cavaliers may continue to deal with lingering injuries to key players ahead of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals.
Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said, via Jamal Collier of ESPN, that there is "real concerns" about the status of forwards Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter for Tuesday's matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
Mobley, Hunter and guard Darius Garland will be listed as questionable for the matchup. Mobley hurt his left ankle in the fourth quarter of Game 1 while Hunter dislocated his thumb during the fourth quarter. Indiana took a 1-0 series lead with a 121-112 victory.
Mobley had 20 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in 36 minutes while Hunter had 11 points, four rebounds and an assist in 30 minutes. Garland has notably been out since he suffered a toe injury in Game 2 of the first round.
Missing Mobley, Hunter and Garland would be a massive blow to the Cavaliers' hopes to tie the series. Mobley averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds in the regular season, Hunter averaged 17 points and four rebounds, while Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists.
All three were crucial to Cleveland's run to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. Losing them will put more pressure on Donovan Mitchell and also make depth contributions even more vital.
Ad Placeholder
Game 2 is set for Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Cleveland.
