Cavs Head to Toronto Shorthanded as Garland Sits Again

The Cleveland Cavaliers begin a brief road trip on Monday night with a visit to the Toronto Raptors, entering the matchup fresh off completing their longest homestand of the season. While the team showed encouraging energy in Sunday’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers, the victory came with continued caution surrounding guard Darius Garland’s ongoing toe issue.

Garland, who recently returned to the lineup after a series of setbacks, has been navigating what the Cavaliers have described as a non-linear recovery process. He delivered solid performances in both weekend games, but Cleveland’s medical staff and coaching personnel made it clear that his status would remain day-to-day for the foreseeable future.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson emphasized patience, noting that Garland’s injury resembles turf-toe-type conditions often seen in football players, which typically require careful management to avoid aggravation. According to Atkinson, communication between the player and staff is essential as the team balances conditioning demands with long-term health.

With Garland sidelined once again and several other rotation pieces also unavailable, Cleveland will rely heavily on its remaining stars and bench depth as it looks to secure an important early-season road win against a familiar Eastern Conference opponent.

1. Garland’s Status and Cleveland’s Cautious Approach

Garland has been ruled out for Monday’s game in Toronto as the Cavaliers continue to manage his left great toe injury. The decision follows a pair of encouraging outings over the weekend, including an eight-point, eight-assist performance against the Clippers on Sunday. Atkinson reiterated that setbacks are to be expected, stressing that Garland’s recovery will not follow a straight timeline. The staff plans to evaluate him daily based on pain thresholds, workload response, and overall readiness. Cleveland has adopted a conservative stance with player health this season, a philosophy Atkinson says is influenced by watching how other leagues handle similar injuries. He referenced recent NFL cases involving quarterbacks managing toe issues as examples of the unpredictable nature of such recoveries. While the team is optimistic that Garland is gradually trending in the right direction, the Cavs remain committed to avoiding a situation where he reinjures the area or compromises conditioning for the long term.

2. Mounting Absences Challenge Cavs’ Depth

Garland is far from the only Cavalier sidelined for the trip north. De’Andre Hunter, Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Craig Porter Jr. are all out, contributing to one of the Cavs’ thinest rotations so far this season. Allen will miss his third straight game with a finger strain, while Merrill is set to sit his fourth with a hand injury. Porter remains out with a hamstring strain, leaving Cleveland without multiple backcourt contributors. Dean Wade, who has been an important defensive option off the bench, is listed as questionable due to a hyperextended knee. Max Strus, still recovering from foot surgery, is also unavailable. The result is a roster stretched across multiple positions, forcing Cleveland to distribute minutes creatively and rely on role players who have seen fluctuating usage throughout the early portion of the season.

3. Mitchell, Mobley Carry the Load Against Toronto

Despite the lengthy injury report, the Cavaliers remain confident in their ability to compete behind the play of Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Mitchell has been performing at an MVP-level pace, consistently generating offense while keeping the Cavs competitive in tight moments. Mobley, meanwhile, enters the matchup with added motivation following the team’s last meeting with Toronto, where he and Scottie Barnes engaged in a physical, highly competitive interior battle. Cleveland expects him to play a central role on both ends once again. Atkinson acknowledged the challenge of entering a road game shorthanded but reinforced belief in his top players and the bench, which has delivered several strong efforts during recent stretches. Toronto, which will be without RJ Barrett due to a knee sprain, presents a physical matchup that will demand disciplined defensive execution—particularly with so many key Cavs unavailable.