INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — NBA Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley and All-Star guard Darius Garland returned to the starting lineup for the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Key backup De’Andre Hunter was also active after missing Game 2 with a sprained right thumb.
The announcement came about 30 minutes before the start of Game 3 at Indianapolis, where the Cavaliers cut down the Pacers, 126-104. Indiana leads the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-1.
Mobley missed Tuesday’s Game 2 with a sprained left ankle. Garland missed each of the Cavs’ four previous postseason games (including a pair against the Heat) with a sprained big toe on his left foot.
Coach Kenny Atkinson wouldn’t say pregame whether any of the three would be on minute restrictions, though he seemed most concerned with Garland because of much time he’s missed recently.
Mobley finished with 18 points (6-13 FGs), 13 rebounds, four assists, three steals and three blocks, while Garland posted 10 points (3-11 FGs, 2-7 3PM) in 25 minutes. Hunter added eight points and five rebounds off the bench.
The Pacers had taken advantage of Cleveland’s injuries by using their depth to pull away late in Game 1 and rallying from a seven-point deficit in the final minute to take Game 3 on Tyrese Haliburton’s 3-pointer with 1.1 seconds left.
