Darius Garland is out for at least a week with a toe injury

The Cleveland Cavaliers he announced on Sunday that Darius Garland there is he suffered a 1st degree sprain on his right toemeaning he will miss action for at least the next week. The All-Star player underwent evaluation and imaging over the weekend to determine the severity of the injury. According to the team, Garland will be reevaluated in 7 to 10 days.

Garland endured the setback last Wednesday in the first meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers. Trying to avoid a trap, he lost the ball and tried to recover it between three different opponents. When the Sixers came out with the ball, Garland clumsily rolled the top of his right foot and immediately reacted to the pain. He exited the game with just over four minutes left in the third quarter.

While on the bench, Garland understandably showed his frustration as Cavs head coach Stephen Spiro examined the injury. Both soon went to the locker room, and he was ejected early in the fourth period.

“He’s in a good mood,” Mitchell said after Wednesday’s game. “That’s always a good sign, isn’t it?”

“I hope he’s good,” Jaylon Tyson added. “We need him. Everyone knows the impact he has on the field. He makes everyone around him better. It sucks to take him out, but we have to keep going.”

That was suggested by Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson Tyson will have more ball-handling responsibilities while Garland is on the sidelines. It should also open up opportunities for Craig Porter Jr., Tyrese Proctor and Lonzo Ball.

“I feel like I could raise my score,” Porter said Sunday after practice. “Just making open shots, just keep getting into the paint, making better decisions and doing things like that, along with my ball pressure. But I feel like there’s another level I could add to it.”

This injury obviously isn’t helping Cleveland, which is only fair is starting to find its footing as a team. It’s also another mental test for Garland, who will now be dealing with essentially the same toe injury on both feet. This latest case doesn’t seem that difficult at first glance, but he only recently started getting into a physical rhythm, about six months after surgery on his left toe. Now he’ll have to figure out ways to play with the pain in his opposite foot.

The Cavs will next take on the heavyweight Oklahoma City Thunder as part of a loaded Martin Luther King Jr. tournament. Come on. We’ll see how he does without his starting All-Star point guard against the defending champions.