Darius Garland Targets Wednesday Return Against 76ers
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland could play his first game of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday when the team visits the Philadelphia 76ers, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported on Monday.
According to Charania, the 25-year-old floor general will be upgraded on the Cavaliers’ injury report, signaling that he is nearing clearance. Garland still must avoid any setbacks over the next two days, but if he is not activated in Philadelphia, his next opportunity would come Friday at Washington.
Garland is coming off a standout 2024-25 campaign in which he averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds across 30.7 minutes while shooting 47.2% from the field, 40.1% from three-point range and 87.8% at the foul line. Those numbers earned him the second All-Star selection of his career.
A turf toe injury sidelined the point guard for the final two games of Cleveland’s first-round series against Miami and the first two contests of the Eastern Conference semifinals versus Indiana. Garland underwent surgery in early June, and initial projections had him missing the start of the current season.
With Garland and small forward Max Strus (foot surgery) unavailable, head coach J.B. Bickerstaff has rotated several players through the opening lineup, including Sam Merrill, Jaylon Tyson, DeAndre Hunter and Larry Nance Jr., alongside regular starters Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Garland is expected to regain his spot as the starting point guard immediately, though the Cavaliers are likely to monitor his minutes as he works back into game shape.
Source: Hoops Rumors
