The Cleveland Cavaliers enter the Eastern Conference semifinals riding high after a historic sweep of the Miami Heat. Their 4-0 domination included the most lopsided first-round sweep in NBA history—outscoring the Heat by a staggering 122 points across the series and capping it off with a 55-point Game 4 demolition.

Now, with the Indiana Pacers standing in their way, all eyes are on the Cavs’ injury report—and whether Donovan Mitchell and his co-star Darius Garland will both be ready to go.

First things first—Donovan Mitchell is not on the Cavs’ injury report. He’s fully available for tonight’s Game 1 clash against the Pacers. The six-time All-Star has been one of the league’s most consistent postseason performers, and he’s expected to take on a heavy load in this second-round series.

Mitchell is well aware of the threat Indiana poses. Speaking ahead of the series, he emphasized the Pacers’ pace and depth as key concerns: “That’s been their advantage… they’ve got a lot of guys, they’ve got a lot of depth, which I think is what makes it possible.” Rick Carlisle’s team ran the Bucks out of the gym in Round 1, and Mitchell knows the Cavs can’t afford to fall behind the tempo.

Garland’s Game-Time Decision Looms Over Cavs

While Mitchell is good to go, the real question mark is Darius Garland. The star point guard missed Games 3 and 4 against Miami due to a sprained left big toe and is currently listed as questionable for tonight’s opener against Indiana.

Garland participated in a full-contact practice on Friday, but head coach Kenny Atkinson made it clear that his availability will be a game-time decision. “We’re just in this kind of area where you just got to see day-by-day and see how it feels tomorrow morning,” Atkinson said on Saturday.

It’s a big call. Garland averaged 20.6 points and 6.7 assists in the regular season and was outstanding in the first two games against Miami, posting 24 points and seven assists per game. His absence would shift more ball-handling duties to Mitchell and increase pressure on backups like Sam Merrill and Ty Jerome.

Still, Atkinson remains optimistic: “The toe’s a tough one. There’s pain and all that. But the good thing, when we watch him shooting right now, he’s moving well.” The coach also praised the team’s depth, which shone in Garland’s absence. In the Game 4 blowout, six Cavs scored in double figures, highlighting the roster’s versatility.

The Cavaliers may have cruised past Miami, but Indiana is a different beast. The Pacers upset Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks in five games, thanks to their lightning-quick tempo and deep rotation. Mitchell acknowledged this, noting that Carlisle’s willingness to play 10 guys makes them hard to wear down.

While Cleveland is the favorite on paper, the regular-season series tells a different story: Indiana won 3 of 4 matchups. Yes, Cleveland rested key players in two of those games, but the message is clear—this isn’t a team to overlook.

For the Cavs to maintain control and keep their title dreams alive, they’ll need both stars healthy and firing. With Mitchell already locked in and Garland trending in the right direction, Cleveland fans will be hoping for good news just before tip-off.

Tip-off for Game 1 is scheduled for 6 PM EDT. Stay tuned for official word on Garland’s final status.