Pacers vs. Cavs injury update: Will Cavaliers All-Stars play in Game 2?

Indianapolis Star

06-05-2025

Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson remained cagey Tuesday afternoon when discussing the availability of All-Stars Darius Garland (toe) and Evan Mobley (ankle) and key bench player De'Andre Hunter (dislocated thumb) for Tuesday night's Game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals versus the Pacers.
Atkinson said in his pregame availability all remained questionable, though none of them participated in the Cavs' shootaround, according to IndyStar's Dustin Dopirak.
Indiana holds a 1-0 series lead after Sunday's 121-112 win on the road and could take a commanding 2-0 lead back to Indianapolis against the short-handed Cavaliers.
Garland missed the final two games of the Miami series and Game 1 vs. the Pacers with a sprained toe. Mobley, the Defensive Player of the Year, and Hunter played in Game 1 but picked up injuries in the second half. Hunter dislocated his thumb when Bennedict Mathurin met him at the rim to block a layup attempt and Hunter fell to the floor hard. The Cavs challenged the play, claiming Hunter was fouled, but the review upheld the original no-call. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson said Mobley was hurt when Myles Turner contested a shot and didn't allow Mobley enough space to land.
"I don't think they were dirty plays, but I think it passed a line of physicality," Atkinson told reporters Monday. "That line we've kind of been talking about where it became excessive. So No. 1 was the non-call on De'Andre's layup, which I don't know. Everyone in the world just look at that play, and they reviewed it, and I'm just in shock. I dunno. And I guess I gotta know the rules better. So maybe I don't know the rules. I felt he got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb, so he'll be questionable.
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"And then Evan, around the same time, I can't remember if it was before or after, Turner contests his 2-point shot, comes under, clearly under him. And shooters need space to land, and is pushed off balance in kind of our opinion and tweaks his ankle pretty bad. I think you guys saw him limping the rest of the game."
Indiana Pacers vs Cleveland Cavaliers NBA playoffs series schedule
* if necessary
Game 3: at Indiana, Friday (May 9), 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Game 4: at Indiana, Sunday (May 11), 8 p.m., TNT/truTV/Max
Game 5*: at Cleveland, Tuesday (May 13), TNT/truTV/Max
Game 6*: at Indiana, Thursday (May 15), ESPN
Game 7*: at Cleveland, Sunday (May 18), TBD
What time is Cavs vs Pacers Game 2 NBA playoffs?
7 p.m. ET Tuesday.
What TV channel is Cavs vs Pacers Game 2 on?