Darius Garland’s Return to Action and Evan Mobley’s Impact on the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland received a reminder from teammate Evan Mobley about the physical demands of NBA basketball as Garland prepares to return to action.
Mobley recently made his comeback for the Cavaliers in their game against the Los Angeles Clippers on January 29th. Despite being sidelined for over a month due to a knee injury, the 22-year-old contributed 10 points and nine rebounds in 21 minutes of play, helping Cleveland secure a 10-point victory over the Clippers. This win marked the Cavaliers’ second consecutive victory and their ninth win in the last ten games, positioning them just one game behind the New York Knicks in the race for the No. 3 seed in the conference.
#Cavs big man Evan Mobley shared with us that he told Darius Garland to be ready for the ramp up toward being in actual in game shape.
Mobley said the cardio they did on a day-to-day basis to stay in shape while out is a different beast to what they deal with on the court.
— Evan Dammarell (@AmNotEvan) January 31, 2024
Throughout the 2023-24 regular season, Mobley has showcased his versatility, averaging 15.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.6 blocks per game in 22 appearances. Selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley has emerged as one of the league’s top defensive players, earning an All-Defensive nod last season.
As for Garland, he is set to return to action when the Cavaliers host the Detroit Pistons, who despite having the worst record in the NBA, have won two of their last three games. Garland has been sidelined since suffering a jaw injury against the Boston Celtics on December 14th, following a collision with Celtics big man Kristaps Porzingis.
Following their game against the Pistons, the Cavaliers will face the Memphis Grizzlies on the road on Thursday night.
