CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cavs are getting _some_ reinforcements for their Eastern Conference semifinal rematch against the Indiana Pacers.
All-Star point guard Darius Garland and second-year swingman Jaylon Tyson will both return to the lineup Friday night. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said the two players will be on a minute restriction.
Despite Garland and Tyson providing a boost to Cleveland’s lineup, starting center Jarrett Allen will be out because of a right finger strain.
Allen was listed as questionable going into the night and Atkinson hinted at his potential availability, but Allen did not go through his usual on-court workout, with the medical staff believing it best to hold him out.
Allen’s injury is not considered serious. Friday will be his third missed game this season.
Garland, who underwent toe surgery this summer, has been sidelined more than a week because of injury management related to his big toe.
After missing all of the preseason and the first seven games, Garland finally made his debut on Nov. 5. But in his third game on Nov. 10 against the Miami Heat, Garland re-aggravated that same toe multiple times and eventually exited to the locker room for further evaluation. He was limited to 19 minutes that night and missed the next five games.
The injury was initially labeled a toe contusion.
After temporarily being shut down from basketball activities, Garland returned to the court recently, taking contact and increasing his on-court sessions to 5 on 5. He went through his pregame warmup Friday without issue, getting clearance to play.
Tyson, who suffered a concussion that same night in Miami, has cleared the league’s protocol.
Friday night marks the first meeting between Cleveland and Indiana since the Cavs were eliminated by the Pacers in the second round of the NBA playoffs last year.
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