Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland Suffers Fractured Jaw, Expected to Miss Weeks

CLEVELAND — Cleveland Cavaliers star Darius Garland has suffered a fractured jaw in a recent game against the Boston Celtics, according to league sources confirmed to The Athletic. The injury is expected to sideline Garland for multiple weeks.

Fractured Jaw and Recovery Timeline

Darius Garland, 23, who was an All-Star in 2022, sustained the fracture during the second half of the game in a collision with Kristaps Porziņģis. Despite the injury, Garland continued playing and finished the game with 19 points. However, subsequent X-rays revealed the extent of the damage. The Cavaliers will now have to cope without Garland’s contributions of 20.7 points and 5.9 assists per game.

Cleveland Cavaliers’ Struggles

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been on a three-game losing streak and currently hold a record of 13-12 through 25 games this season. After an impressive regular season last year with 51 wins, they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the New York Knicks. Injuries and inconsistency have plagued the team in the current season.

Injury Woes and Backup Options

Ricky Rubio, who was expected to be a backup guard, is unavailable due to mental health reasons, while Tyler Jerome is sidelined with an ankle injury. Additionally, rising star forward Evan Mobley has been out of action in recent games due to a knee injury. Despite these setbacks, the Cavaliers still have Donovan Mitchell, the seventh-highest scorer in the NBA, and Caris LeVert as potential replacements for Garland.

Another option is rookie Craig Porter Jr., who has been averaging 7.2 points and 2.4 assists.

Upcoming Homestand

The Cleveland Cavaliers will begin a four-game homestand on Saturday night against the Atlanta Hawks.

Required Reading

(Photo: Winslow Townson / Getty Images)