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via Imago

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via Imago

The Cavaliers are one win away from sending the Miami Heat straight to Cancun — but the real question is: will Darius Garland even show up to the party? The dude’s big toe is still giving him grief, and Cleveland’s got to decide whether to throw him out there for Game 4 or keep letting Ty Jerome cook like he’s starring in a 2016 mixtape. But just to go with the flow, Game 3 Recap:

The Cavs didn’t just beat Miami — they broke them. A 124–87 drubbing, with no Garland, Donovan Mitchell shooting like he was auditioning for an HGTV show, and it still wasn’t even close. Jarrett Allen was living rent-free in the paint, Evan Mobley casually dropped 19 points while making Miami look like they weren’t even there, and Ty Jerome turned into a one-man wrecking ball, finishing with 13 points and 11 assists. Straight-up chaos, and Miami had no answer. But the answer we want?

Will Darius Garland Play Tonight? Now, this is where things get interesting.

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The latest injury report says Garland (toe) is questionable for Monday night’s game. Yes, questionable. He missed Game 3, and guess what? The Cavs didn’t miss a beat. They didn’t just win — they dominated without him. So even if he stays out for Game 4, Cleveland’s in the driver’s seat, looking pretty damn comfortable putting Miami in a headlock.

Still, Garland’s a key piece if the Cavs want to dance deep into May. They’re probably thinking: “Why risk it?” Finish the sweep, get Darius Garland a full week’s rest, and let Boston sweat a little.

Cavaliers Depth Chart vs Heat Game 4

Before we dive headfirst into the Game 4 chaos, let’s take a quick vibe check on how the Cavaliers are stacking up — both in the health department and in pure “who’s carrying the squad right now” energy.

POSITIONSTARTER2nd UNIT3rd UNIT
PGDarius Garland (Day-to-Day)Ty JeromeDonovan Mitchell
SGDonovan MitchellSam MerrillMax Strus
SFMax StrusDe’Andre HunterIsaac Okoro
PFEvan MobleyDean WadeDe’Andre Hunter
C Jarrett AllenEvan MobleyTristan Thompson

Max Strus was everywhere, dropping 18 points, drilling 4 threes, grabbing 9 rebounds, and handing out 5 assists like it was nothing. Evan Mobley looked completely unbothered, stacking up 19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks — pure domination. Jarrett Allen? Absolute bully in the paint — 22 points on 8-for-9 shooting, with 10 rebounds to boot.

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What’s your perspective on:

Can the Cavs sweep Miami without Garland, or is his return crucial for the final blow?

Have an interesting take?

De’Andre Hunter lit it up too, quietly tossing in 21 points and cashing all 6 of his free throws like a machine. And even though Donovan Mitchell’s shot was a little off, he still knocked down 3 triples and kept the ball moving when it mattered.

 

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Cleveland is one step away from pulling off a clean 4-0 sweep. Whether Darius Garland gets back on the floor or not, the Cavs have already shown they’ve got enough firepower and grit to finish the job. If they bring the same energy — crashing the glass, locking down on defense, and moving the ball — Miami’s summer vacation might start a little early.

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  Debate

Can the Cavs sweep Miami without Garland, or is his return crucial for the final blow?

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