Darius Garland Is Playing Through Pain-and Leading the Cavaliers Anyway
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in a rough patch, no way around it. Two straight losses in three days-both after what was supposed to be a “reset week” with extra practice-have only added to the frustration. But amid the turbulence, Darius Garland is showing exactly why he’s one of the emotional engines of this team.
He’s hurting. That toe injury has been nagging him for weeks, ever since a reaggravation back on November 10 in Miami. And yet, there he was on the floor again Sunday night, grinding through the pain for 39 minutes-more than anyone else on the roster-trying to will his team to a win.
“I get paid a lot of money to do that, first and foremost. I love basketball,” Garland said after the Cavs’ 119-111 overtime loss to the Hornets. “I love being out there with my teammates, enjoying their success.”
That’s not just talk. Garland didn’t just put up a season-high 26 points and dish out nine assists-he played with an edge, a purpose, and a resilience that stood out on a night when the Cavs needed every ounce of it. He went at Charlotte’s Brandon Miller on both ends, took a hard off-arm to the chest late in the fourth that could’ve been called an offensive foul, and still kept pushing.
“He broke through,” head coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He gets these stingers when he makes a hard change of direction, hard plant, and I thought he played through it tonight. He’s starting to find it a little bit-starting to get by, starting to get to the rim, starting to get into the paint a little more-that’s a positive.”
Garland’s impact wasn’t just on the stat sheet. He was active defensively, making deflections, challenging shots, and even blocking a three-point attempt from Charlotte rookie Sion James that led to a shot-clock violation. That kind of defensive effort, especially from a point guard dealing with a toe injury, speaks volumes.
“I mean, that’s an All-Star,” said Jaylon Tyson. “That’s our point guard.
That’s our guy. I’m gonna ride or die with him.
I love him to death, and I appreciate everything he’s done for me and this team. We’re gonna keep rocking with him.”
Garland didn’t want to get into the specifics of the injury when asked postgame, especially after falling to the floor in the fourth quarter and grabbing at that same left foot. But he confirmed it was the toe again-not a new injury, just the same one flaring up under pressure.
Atkinson, speaking before the game, acknowledged how tough the mental side of recovery can be.
“There’s a frustration to it,” he said. “My conversations with him are, ‘Don’t let the frustration bring down your energy.’
His energy, personally, and the energy of the team. It’s completely normal.
You miss three threes in a row, and you’re just like [sigh]. But no, you’ve still got to run back on defense.
Your energy still has to be good.”
That’s been the message: stay engaged, stay positive, and keep leading. Because Garland isn’t just a scorer or a facilitator-he’s one of the emotional leaders in that locker room. And right now, that leadership matters more than ever.
Last week, Garland opened up about the internal battle he’s been facing-physically and mentally. He’s had to sit out games he wanted to play, avoid back-to-backs, and follow a cautious schedule put in place after offseason surgery.
“It’s been a struggle,” he admitted. “Not playing in the games I want to play in and not playing back-to-backs has sucked.
That was a doctor decision. That was a decision for all of us to make in the summertime when I had the surgery, so just trying to listen to the doctor, trying to be as healthy as I can for the time when we really need each other.”
That time is now. The Cavs are in the middle of a slump, and Garland’s presence-his voice, his effort, his energy-is keeping them from slipping deeper into it. He’s not just playing hurt; he’s playing for something bigger than himself.
“He’s looking outside himself,” Atkinson said after the Hornets game. “He’s engaging his teammates.
He’s talking to them. His positive spirit on the bench-I just loved his energy.
That’s what we need, and that’s kind of the ask as he goes through this struggle to get back to the DG we know.”
And Garland’s not just talking to his teammates-he’s talking to the fans, too. He knows the vibes inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse haven’t exactly been electric lately. But he’s asking for a little help.
“I know it’s not a lot to cheer for right now, but we need the fans in it,” Garland said. “That gets us going.
So when the fans [are] not in it, the bench has to be into it. Larry [Nance Jr.] did a really good job, and Thomas [Bryant], on the bench [Sunday].
Really doing everything they can to try to get some energy in the arena, standing up, screaming from the other side of the floor. Really trying to find that energy.
That’s what we need.”
The Cavs have a light week ahead, with a home-and-home against the Bulls starting Friday in Chicago. That gives Garland and the team a little time to regroup-and maybe, just maybe, catch a spark.
But one thing’s clear: Darius Garland isn’t waiting for things to get better. He’s out there, banged-up toe and all, trying to lead the way. And in a season that’s already had its share of adversity, that kind of leadership is worth its weight in gold.