The Cleveland Cavaliers will be short-handed for a while as point guard Darius Garland and center Evan Mobley are set to miss multiple weeks.
Garland suffered a fractured jaw in a collision with Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis on Thursday and is expected to be out for four weeks after undergoing surgery next week.
Mobley will have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is anticipated to be sidelined for six to eight weeks.
Mobley, who averages 16 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, will have a loose body removed from his knee, sources told ESPN.
He is one of three players averaging 15 points, 10 rebounds, and 55% shooting this season, alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Domantas Sabonis.
Darius Garland (Credits: NBA)
Mobley had missed four consecutive games due to the knee issue after missing only three games last season. The Cavaliers are 1-3 without Mobley this season.
Garland’s injury occurred early in the third quarter of the Celtics’ 116-107 victory. Garland went to the locker room for evaluation but returned to play most of the second half, finishing with 19 points and three assists. The severity of his injury was determined on Friday.
This season, Garland is averaging 20.7 points and 5.9 assists per game.
These injuries are a significant setback for the Cavaliers, who are 13-12 and on a three-game losing streak after losing two games in Boston this week to the Eastern Conference-leading Celtics.
The Cavaliers are currently thin at guard as backup point guard Ricky Rubio has been away from the team all season to focus on his mental health, and Ty Jerome has missed most of the season with a high ankle sprain.
