Cavs’ Darius Garland to Make Return vs. Celtics

Finally, Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland is a go.

Per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Garland will indeed make his return Wednesday, when the Cavs (5-1) play host to the Celtics. Garland went through practice Tuesday and was upgraded to questionable on the official injury report.

Garland has missed all but the first half of the first game, a road loss to the Raptors. The Cavs have won five straight since, including a victory in Boston.

Tipoff for Wednesday’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. You can check out our full preview right here.

Garland, who suffered a laceration on his left eyelid, had been fitted for protective goggles last week — and coach J.B. Bickerstaff indicated Garland will likely to wear them in a game.

“We’ll see (Wednesday),” Bickerstaff said of the possibility of Garland’s return, via Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “He went through everything. It’s how he’s feeling tomorrow and what the swelling looks like. But he was good today. He’s done enough to go ahead and play if he’s gonna play.”

Garland has stayed connected by attending games and cheering on his teammates — sometimes wildly — from the sideline. He has been sporting sunglasses while on the bench.

“He’s watching with an eye on what’s happening and why it’s happening, so when he does come back he understands and he’s participating even though he’s not out on the floor,” Bickerstaff said, via Fedor.

Garland, 21, averaged career-highs of 21.7 points and 8.6 assists in 68 games last season, making his first All-Star appearance. He was originally drafted by the Cavs with the No. 5 overall pick in 2019.

Cavaliers All-Star point guard Darius Garland will make his return to the lineup tonight vs. Boston, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Garland has been sidelined since Oct. 19 due to an an eye injury suffered while playing 13 minutes in Cleveland’s season opener in Toronto.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 2, 2022