TITLE: Garland Nearing Season Debut as Cavaliers Monitor Final Checkups, Atkinson Says
SLUG: cavaliers-garland-nearing-return-final-checkups
CONTENT:
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said All-Star guard Darius Garland is “really close” to playing his first game of the 2025-26 season, but the club will wait for Wednesday morning’s evaluation before making a decision.
“Just kind of see how he responds,” Atkinson told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the medical staff must still issue a formal green light. The Cavaliers host the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday; if Garland is held out, the next target would be Friday’s road game against the Washington Wizards.
Garland has completed his conditioning program after undergoing turf-toe surgery in early June. The same injury sidelined him for the end of last spring’s series against the Miami Heat and the opening portion of the matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
Should he return this week, Garland will play under a minutes restriction. “It’s not going to be like he’s going to play 12 minutes,” Atkinson said. “If he does play, is it going to be 32? No, but I think it’ll be a decent amount of minutes. Then I’ve got to read it, just communicate with him and see where he is.”
The 25-year-old averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists and 2.9 rebounds on 47.2 percent shooting last season, earning his second consecutive All-Star appearance.
Source: Hoops Wire
