Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley slam Darius Garland for trash talk on TNT after injury update
Photo byIn the wild world of
NBA playoffs
, the Basketball Gods always seem ready to humble anyone who gets too bold too soon. Just days after calling out
Tyler Herro
's defense following a Game 2 win,
Cleveland Cavaliers
star
Darius Garland
now finds himself on the sidelines. Garland has officially been ruled out for
Game 3
against the
Miami Heat
, sidelined by a
sprained toe
, a cruel twist after his fiery comments earlier this week.
TNT crew rips Darius Garland as trash talk backfires and injury sidelines him
Darius Garland
didn't hold back when he spoke to the media after helping lead the
Cleveland Cavaliers
to a 2-0 series advantage. He said the Cavaliers planned to 'pick on
Tyler Herro
,' labeling the Heat guard as a weak defender. But as fate would have it, Garland won't even get a chance to back up his words on the court.
The reaction from the NBA on TNT crew was instant and brutal.
Charles Barkley
couldn't hide his disbelief. 'Are you kidding me?' Barkley said. 'You got to be kidding me, right? Well, first of all, you don't say that. No, you don't. You've got to play.' Barkley stressed that even if Herro isn't known for defense, the Heat star still dropped 34 points in Game 2, adding, 'So don't act like he's a bum.'
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed!
IC Markets
Start Now
Undo
Shaquille O'Neal
also weighed in, offering his take during the same TNT segment. 'You can say it, but you shouldn't say it,' Shaq said, emphasizing the risk of revealing a team's game plan. He added, 'Miami is a defensive-minded team. Now they're coming for you.'
Shaq even joked about Garland's injury, suggesting he tough it out. 'Sprained toe? Go to Walgreens and get some Icy Hot toe socks,' Shaq said, teasing how players from his era would have handled it.
The Cavaliers, led by head coach Kenny Atkinson, quickly tried to steer the conversation back to basketball. Garland, who averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists during the regular season, had been key to Cleveland's success and was putting up strong numbers this postseason. Still, the team decided sitting him was the best move.
As for the
Miami Heat
, they'll need big performances from Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro to avoid falling into a 0-3 hole. Through two games, Herro has been excellent, averaging 27 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 50% from the field.
Also Read:
'What are you doing?' – Charles Barkley sends one blunt message for Nico Harrison following his end-of-season press conference
With Garland's absence, the Cavaliers' path to a sweep just got a little tougher, and the Basketball Gods might be having the last laugh.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
'4 championships in 16 years is crazy' - NBA fans get nostalgic as Golden State Warriors celebrate Stephen Curry's iconic legacy in a tribute post
Stephen Curry remains one of the most loyal athletes in NBA , who has spent his entire career dedicated to just one team, the Golden State Warriors . The player was selected into the team as the seventh overall pick in the 2009 NBA draft. It's like the team's luck had changed after Curry's inclusion, leading to 4 championship wins from 2009 to date. Honoring the player's legacy, the official account of the Warriors on X posted a picture depicting Curry's evolution as a tribute to his iconic legacy. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Stephen Curry led Golden State Warriors to 4 championship trophies since 2009, earned the MVP award twice The Golden State Warriors had a great start in the 2024-25 season as well, with their win over the Houston Rockets in round 1. However, Warriors' point guard Stephen Curry's exit from the next match in round 2, owing to an injury, proved to be beneficial for the opposing team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Warriors had a disappointing playoff and ended their season run in the second round. Despite the disappointing playoff performance, the team's credibility cannot be undermined by the past playoffs with Curry as part of the team. Between 2009 and the present date, the Warriors have won the championship trophy four times - 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022. During the last 16 years, along with bring the trophy for the team, Curry won the MVP award twice and earned 11 All-Star honors. Even with a limited run in the 2024-25 season, the player averaged a score of 24.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.0 assists. As a sign of respect to the player's contribution towards the team and his unquestionable loyalty, the Warriors put up a post across different social media platforms showcasing the evolution of Curry from Year 1 to year 16. In no time, the post ignited nostalgic memories amongst the fans, bringing in reactions inclusive of praises and appreciation from fans around different corners of the world. While fans are showering praises for the player, one of the users wrote, while anticipating another one of a kind performance from Curry in the future, 'Big30. chefcurry he's coming for another crazy one' Players like Curry are one of a kind and this has been well acknowledged by fans around the globe, 'We so lucky to witness this typa player' 'Greatest shooter of all time, arguably the best PG of all time, THE CHEF.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now '4 championships in 16 years is crazy' Also read: Warriors' post has made fans nostalgic, especially for the ones who have witnessed the development within the player from Year 1 to Year 16. The player has also been credited with revolutionising the sport by inspiring teams and players to opt for 3-point shots more prominently. With the support of fans and incoming praises, the Golden State Warriors with the trio - Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green look forward for a more successful run next season.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Who is Bennedict Mathurin? College stats, contract and other details
Bennedict Mathurin, the Indiana Pacers guard, just put up a career-defining performance in Game 3 of the 2025 NBA Finals, scoring 27 points off the bench in a 116-107 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. But for those just now discovering the rising Canadian star, let's take a closer look at who he is, where he came from, and why the basketball world should keep watching. ALSO READ| Who is Megan McConnell? TJ McConnell's sister and rising WNBA star Born and raised in Montreal, Mathurin didn't take the typical route to NBA stardom. He was the first Canadian-born player to commit to the NBA Academy Latin America in Mexico City. From there, he made his way to college basketball at the University of Arizona. Now, at Arizona, during his sophomore season (2021–22), Mathurin averaged 17.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. His flickable drives and smooth shooting helped him earn Pac-12 Player of the Year honours and All-American recognition. He led the Wildcats to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, though the run ended earlier than expected. In the 2022 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers selected Mathurin sixth overall. Shortly afterwards, he signed a rookie-scale contract, a four-year deal worth over $29 million, with team options for years three and four. On Wednesday night, with a hunger to prove, in the Game 3, with the Finals tied at 1-1, Mathurin came off the bench and erupted for a game-high 27 points. 'Mathurin set the new mark for most points off the bench by a Canadian in an NBA Finals game,' Sportsnet Stats lauded on a X post. The previous record? 24 points by Kelly Olynyk in 2020. Mathurin's 9-of-12 shooting from the field—including 2-of-3 from deep—and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line made for a masterclass in scoring efficiency. ALSO READ| Caitlin Clark, Reggie Miller, Oscar Robertson among those in crowd for Game 3 of NBA Finals After a quiet 5-point showing in Game 1, Mathurin dropped 14 in Game 2 before exploding in Game 3. He's picking up steam at the right time, especially after missing last year's playoff run due to injury. The Pacers' bench outscored the Thunder's 49-18, and Mathurin's fingerprints were all over that margin.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Indiana Pacers tighten grip on NBA Finals with another commanding win in Game 3
Indiana Pacers. Photo via Getty Images A huge moment for the fans of Indiana Pacers as the team racks up another win in NBA Finals Game 3 , bringing the stat to a 2-1 lead over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The team seem to have utilised the home-court advantage to their favor, redeeming for the Game 2 loss in Oklahoma. Small forward Bennedict Mathurin steals the limelight with his impressive performance, becoming the highest scorer of the match. Bennedict Mathurin surpasses NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to become the highest scorer of Game 3 The Indiana Pacers have shut down the analysts through their performance in the recent final games. While Game 1 saw a stunning comeback in the form of a 2-point dunk by the Pacers' point guard Tyrese Haliburton, Game 3 saw the team overcome the 5-point gap, which was left towards the end of the third quarter, through a stunning performance put up by the small forward Bennedict Mathurin. Throughout the match, it was a neck-to-neck battle between the Pacers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Known for his larger-than-life performances, even star player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander couldn't put up the required performance in order to push the Thunder to the desired win. The first quarter saw the Thunder taking the lead by 8 points, subsequently falling behind the Pacers by 4 points in the second quarter. While the gap was filled in the third quarter with a 5-point lead by the Thunder, the Pacers dominated the game in the end with a lead of 9 points. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Here's A List Of Cheapest Steel Suppliers (See List) Steel Suppliers | search ads Search Now Undo It was a great day for the Pacers' forward Mathurin, who was seen breaking personal records and setting new ones. The player ended the match with an individual score of 27 points with 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Tyrese Haliburton became the second-highest scorer of the team with 22 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists. NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could not do much, even though he remains the second-highest scorer of the team with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists. Jalen Williams became the second-highest scorer of the match with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Also read: 'He'll be the greatest player in the history'- NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith makes a bold claim about OKC Thunder's star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ahead of Game 3 After the humongous Game 3 win, the NBA Finals stats now stands at 2-1, with the Indiana Pacers leading the series. Game 4 will be held on June 13, 2025. The Pacers are just two wins away from creating history.
