The Cleveland Cavaliers were stunned by the Indiana Pacers on Sunday at the Rocket Arena, as Tyrese Haliburton and Co. snatched a 1-0 lead in the series after a 121-112 victory. Before tip-off, many believed that the Cavs would be too much to handle for the Pacers. However, the script has entirely flipped after Game 1. As the saying goes, live by the three and die by the three. Cleveland died by the three as the Wine & Gold were only able to convert 23.7 percent of their shots from beyond the arc, with the Pacers converting 52.8 percent of their attempts.

However, there is more for the Cavaliers to sort out. Having sorely missed Darius Garland in the first game, who is questionable for Game 2 as well, Cleveland has further injuries to contend with.  At least, as far as their injury report is concerned, with the latest update on Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter also not looking good. As per ESPN, both players have been listed as questionable for this one, alongside Darius Garland.

Cleveland Cavaliers injury report ahead of Game 2

Cleveland’s start to the second round has been anything but ideal. The Cavs were already short-handed at point guard, with Darius Garland missing the third straight game due to a sprained big toe. He’s hugely important to the way the Cavaliers play. While they did not need him in the final two games as they swept Miami, this series might be a different story altogether. As if missing their All-Star guard wasn’t enough, now Kenny Atkinson and Co. have a lot more to worry about. “We gotta check our health status,‘ said Kenny Atkinson after the loss.

“That’s going to be big. A few guys got banged up. It’s the playoffs. They were super physical. We’ve just got to get our recovery and get ready for Game 2.” The players Atkinson is talking about are Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter, both of whom have a huge question mark over their fitness ahead of a crucial Game 2. Moreover, they were not seen in the team’s shootaround on Tuesday, further indicating that they might not be available for Game 2. The Cavaliers have announced that their prized deadline acquisition, De’Andre Hunter, might also join Garland on the sidelines. Hunter suffered a hard fall during the first game on a transition dunk attempt that was blocked by Indiana’s Bennedict Mathurin.

This caused the 27-year-old forward to dislocate his right thumb. That’s unfortunate news for the Cavs as he’s now on day-to-day and will be a game-day decision. Not having him might be bad, given he’s been solid in the postseason so far, averaging 12.6 points, three rebounds, and 1.2 assists. However, Cleveland’s worries don’t end here! The Cavs’ All-Star forward rolled his ankle in the series opener, piling on the team’s misery. At one point during the game, Mobley could be seen walking with a limp. Nonetheless, the Defensive Player of the Year downplayed his injury after the loss.

“I just came down wrong a little bit,” Mobley stated. “Right now, it’s all good. See how it feels tomorrow. Get some treatment and move forward from there.” It’s concerning news for the Cleveland faithful as Mobley is the backbone of this Cavaliers team, and without him, they might fall into a 2-0 deficit in the series. The 23-year-old has been enjoying a stellar campaign, averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in the playoffs. It makes you wonder, what will be Kenny Atkinson’s next move as they gear up for Game 2?

How can Cleveland’s starting five look amid injury concerns?

Cleveland’s head coach, Kenny Atkinson, finds himself in a precarious position as he and the Cavs get ready for Game 2. The Cavaliers could be without the likes of Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and De’Andre Hunter. So, how might the Cavaliers’ head coach’s starting five look? Well, Garland has missed each of the team’s last three games, with Sam Merrill being Atkinson’s go-to option to replace the point guard. He could once again find himself starting in Game 2 against the Pacers. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell will have to carry the team’s offensive load once again in the absence of Garland and Mobley.

So, here’s how the Cavaliers could start:

Overall, the Cavaliers find themselves in huge trouble. Not many expected them to lose Game 2, but that seems to be the least of their worries right now. Donovan Mitchell will have to find a way to bring this series to a tie before it heads to Indiana. Will they be able to do so? Only time will tell. On the other hand, the Pacers will be looking to take full advantage of this situation to take a 2-0 lead back to Indiana.