The Cleveland Cavaliers’ next road trip is apparently not including Darius Garland, a fairly depressing development for the guard who hasn’t played in over a month due to a fractured jaw.
The 23-year-old has been out since being hurt on December 14 during a Boston Celtics game. According to reports, he has picked up his basketball exercises again and plans to return by the end of the month. The final day of the Cavs’ scheduled four-game road trip is January 26.
In his 20 games this season, Garland is averaging 20.7 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game—figures that are marginally lower than in past years.
Evan Mobley, who is recuperating from knee surgery, is also still out of commission for the Cavaliers. The 22-year-old hasn’t played since December 6 but is still expected to make his comeback inside his six- to eight-week recuperation schedule.
The Cavs are winning despite missing those two starters for extended stretches of time. They head into Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks on a six-game winning streak. That starts the journey, which consists of two games at the Milwaukee Bucks followed by a visit to the Orlando Magic.
The Cavaliers completed a flawless six-game home stand on Wednesday with a 40-point victory over the Bucks. Cleveland, who has won 11 of their last 14 games, is currently in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 24–15 record going into Friday’s NBA action.
The Cavs may have had the leeway to take their time returning thanks to the impressive stretch they had without two of their best players. Additionally, it might have been useful in persuading management to stick with Donovan Mitchell for the duration of the season rather than trying to move the All-Star. The 27-year-old is still the focus of speculation because he hasn’t committed to a longer contract, but the Cavaliers are unwavering in their determination to hold onto him.
The Cleveland Cavaliers are hoping to return to the postseason and perform better than they did the previous year, when they were eliminated by the New York Knicks in the opening round. When they are able to return, having Garland and Mobley back in the lineup will undoubtedly aid that cause.
