Cavalier's updates: Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, de'andre Hunter Questionnab for game 3 against Pacers

In their first round against the Indiana Pacers 2-0, the Cleveland Cavaliers were able to use some reinforcements. The All-Star-Wachmann Darius Garland has not played in the series after clogging his left Big Toe in the first round. All-Star Big Man Evan Mobley (bricked up left ankle) and reserve striker de'andre Hunter (bricked up right thumb) missed game 2 after he was injured at the start of the series. All three were classified as questionable on Friday before game 3 in Indianapolis.

“They all touched the ball,” Cavalier's coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters after training on Thursday. “They all built up some repetitions. But we didn't do anything live. They somehow took part in the walkthrough. Hope for the best.”

According to Joe Vardon from The Athletic, the Cavs are optimistic that Garland, Mobley and Hunter will try to play in game 3. Hunter's thumb are supposedly not as swollen as it was, but Garland and Mobley reported “moved as if they were trying to play through under -leg injuries”.

Cleveland star Donovan Mitchell, who played through a calf pollution in game 2 – and scored 48 points – is not in the injury report.

Atkinson said that Garland “wants to go on the pitch desperately”, but it will depend on how his toe feels.

“I support him 100%, whatever it works. I think he probably has the feeling: 'Listen, I have to bring it to a certain point where I can compete with high intensity playoff level.' The difficult for us is that we cannot really simulate this.

The Cavs had a lead of 20 points in game 2, but evaporated in the fourth quarter. The Pacers ended the game with an 8-0 run in the last 48 seconds and stole a 120-119 victory, with the Star Guard Tyrese Haliburton bouncing off his own missed free throw and achieving a step 3 on the left. In the last two minute report by the NBA it says That Indiana should be challenged for two track injuries in the crunch time: one on Haliburton's rebound and one on the putback Dunk by Aaron Nesmith, which started this 8-0 run.

Cleveland won 64 games in the regular season and is the top seed in the east. After the performance of Mitchell wasted on Tuesday, the season on Friday is effectively on the line. The Cavs managed the minutes of the players throughout the season to reduce the chances that they would be short now, but here they are

“I think it's frustrating for all of us,” said Atkinson. “And it is not a charge against someone or the players – none of it. Injuries are a difficult thing.”