Cavs Worried Darius Garland Could Miss Time

The Cavaliers are concerned that Darius Garland could miss some games after suffering a thumb injury during Thursday’s road loss to the Pacers.

Garland’s right thumb was throbbing after the game, per Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. He suffered the injury in the fourth quarter, when he got whacked on the right hand by Pacers forward Oshae Brissett while driving to the basket.

Garland exited briefly to have the hand examined, then returned sporting a bandage to finish the game. He missed two consecutive free throws for his only attempts at the basket after suffering the injury.

“It was bothering me a lot,” Garland said, via Fedor. “I was just trying to go out there and compete as much as I could. The last two free throws, I looked at (Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff) and I was like, ‘Ah, I really don’t want to shoot these.’ But I got fouled and just tried to make two. They didn’t go in. Everything hurt. I was playing with a wrapped thumb. I couldn’t really do anything. I wasn’t going to be effective with that. It was already throbbing and swollen at that point.”

Garland missed several weeks earlier this season after suffering a laceration to his eyelid in the season-opener. It was just one of several times he’s been hit in the face this season.

“Just getting hacked all season,” Garland said, via Fedor. “Nothing has changed. The physicality isn’t a factor at all. It’s the whistle not being blown at the right time when it’s a foul, an obvious foul. Some of this stuff we should be reviewing.”

The Cavs (22-14) have lost three straight. They pay a visit to the Bulls on Saturday and Garland indicated he is hoping to play.

“The whole thing about the league taking care of the players, it seems like we’re not doing that as much this year,” Garland said. “At least, the way we did in previous years.”

Garland, 22, is averaging 21.3 points and 7.8 assists, shooting 50 percent from the field, in 30 games.