Cavs’ Darius Garland aiming to return by end of month

The Cavaliers have been doing just fine without point guard Darius Garland and power forward Evan Mobley, thank you very much.

So imagine how much better they should be when those two return.

Well, at least one of them may be getting closer, and that just happens to be Garland, their one-time All-Star. Per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com, Garland is aiming to return from a fractured jaw at the end of the month.

Garland has missed 12 games with the injury. The Cavs announced four weeks ago that he would be re-evaluated in four weeks. It will actually be four weeks to the day on Monday.

While the team hasn’t made any sort of formal announcement, Fedor reported that he’s expected to have the wiring removed from his jaw on Monday. It’s a pretty significant injury and interestingly, Garland went back in the game and played on the day it occurred.

Anyway, he hasn’t been working out since, as doctors didn’t want him to increase his heart rate, Fedor reported. So there will be some needed time to try to get back into game shape. One way to do that, of course, is to play in games — and eventually, that’s what it will take.

Nonetheless, the Cavs will remain conservative and not rush him back. After all, Cleveland (22-15) is 9-3 in this stretch without Garland and Mobley. As long as the trajectory continues, they can continue to take their time and let those injuries heal fully.

The Cavs still have two spots available on their 15-man roster.