The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to face off against the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of their best-of-seven series, with the top-seeded Cavs trailing 2-0 heading into Friday night’s matchup at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Player Updates
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson provided an update on the status of several key players during pregame media availability:
- Darius Garland: Sprained left big toe (Questionable)
- Evan Mobley: Sprained left ankle (Questionable)
- De’Andre Hunter: Sprained right shooting thumb (Questionable)
All three players participated in shootaround on Thursday morning and appeared on the court at Gainbridge Fieldhouse for pregame warm-ups.
Team Outlook
The Cavaliers are looking to bounce back from two tough losses against the Pacers and aim to get back into contention for their first playoff series win since 2018. The team will need contributions from its entire roster to pull off this upset.
Starting Lineup Changes
In addition to Garland’s potential return, Atkinson announced that center Jarrett Allen would start alongside him in place of Isaiah Mobley. This move could provide Cleveland with an advantage against Indiana’s frontcourt duo of Myles Turner and Jalen Smith.
Coach’s Strategy
Atkinson emphasized the importance of making adjustments based on observations from Games 1 and 2. He stated that his goal is not only to implement changes but also to enhance team cohesion.
"We’ve got some things we’re going to try," Atkinson said. "We’ve got some things we’re going to stick with because it worked well last year or it worked well this year."
He also praised his team’s resilience despite being down two games in the series:
"I think our guys have shown great resilience throughout this season. They’ve shown great resilience throughout these playoffs so far."
Game Details
- Date: Friday
- Time: Tipoff is scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. local time
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
- TV Broadcast: ESPN
Radio Broadcast
-
Local Radio (Cleveland):
- WTAM AM/1100
- WKNR AM/850
- WHLO AM/640
- WKRK FM/92
- WKDD FM/102
- WKYC Channel Newsradio
-
Local Radio (Indiana):
- WFNI AM/1070
- WXNT AM
- WIBC FM
Injury Report
According to the NBA Injury Report:
- Darius Garland: Sprained Left Big Toe – Questionable
- Evan Mobley: Sprained Left Ankle – Questionable
- De’Andre Hunter: Sprained Right Shooting Thumb – Questionable
The Cavaliers will look to build upon this momentum when they take on the Pacers tonight at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
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