INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Cavs’ trio of injured players were finally back on the practice court ahead of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Cleveland conducted what coach Kenny Atkinson labeled a shootaround prior to leaving for Indiana Thursday afternoon. Darius Garland, De’Andre Hunter and Evan Mobley took part.

“They all touched the ball. They all got some reps up,” Atkinson said. “But we didn’t do anything live, so they kind of participated in the walkthrough.

“Hoping for the best.”

That’s been Atkinson’s go-to line since April 23 — the night Garland re-aggravated a previous toe injury that has mostly shut him down from any basketball activities. His status for the remainder of this series remains unclear.

Garland, who has missed the last four playoff games due to a sprained big toe on his left foot, will likely be listed as questionable on the team’s official injury report — a designation that has raised eyebrows. Sources reiterated Thursday that it’s both a pain tolerance and effectiveness issue, with pain and swelling making it incredibly difficult to do any sharp movements or pushing off, let alone suit up.

So, is Garland making the choice not to play or is it Cleveland’s medical staff?

 “I think it’s all of it,” Atkinson said. “It’s both pieces. You’ve been to the doctor. You know how it goes. They give their recommendations, they talk through it and you make a decision. I’ve experienced it with my son, with a sprained ankle in the playoffs. Do you play? Do you not play? Even for me as a father, it was hard to tell him, no, son, you have to talk with the trainers, you have to talk with the doctor and then only you can make the call. So that’s kind of what it is.”

In two playoff games, Garland is averaging 24.0 points and 7.0 assists. The Cavs are 2-2 without him.

Over the last few weeks, Garland has been trying to keep his conditioning up by jogging on the team’s AlterG Gravity Treadmill while also doing other non-impact workouts.

“He desperately wants to get on the court,” Atkinson said. “It’s just kind of in these situations I just kind of, I step back. I support him 100%, whichever way it goes. I think he’s probably like I’ve got to get to a certain point where I can compete at a high-intensity playoff level. That type of intensity is tough to simulate. I guess at some point hopefully he will get out there and try it. But obviously couldn’t run or anything.”

Both Hunter and Mobley suffered injuries in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s Game 1 loss against the Pacers on plays Atkinson believed were excessive and over the line of normal playoff physicality.

Hunter has a dislocated right thumb. Mobley is battling a sprained left ankle.

That could leave Cleveland, trailing 0-2 in the best-of-seven-series without three of its four postseason leading scorers for a second straight game.

“It’s so hard with these,” Atkinson said when asked to assess their chances of playing. “The only way I could answer that is kind of got in their bodies. Otherwise, I’m just playing a guessing game. You never know. This is just life in the NBA. I think it’s frustrating for all of us, and it’s no indictment on anybody or the players, none of that. Injuries are a tough thing. You don’t really know unless you experience it yourself.”

Despite Donovan Mitchell playing through a minor calf strain and experiencing cramps in the final minutes of the Game 2 collapse, Mitchell was the last player to leave the court Thursday afternoon — a sign he isn’t feeling any effects of that.

Atkinson does not anticipate Mitchell carrying an injury designation into Friday’s game.