Darius Garland is back.
The Cavaliers have activated their All-Star point guard for Wednesday’s game against the Philadelphia 76ers. He’ll make his season debut after missing Cleveland’s first seven games.
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Garland hasn’t played since undergoing surgery in June to repair a toe injury that limited him in the playoffs. Garland missed Games 3 and 4 of a first-round sweep of the Heat, then missed two more games in Cleveland’s 4-1 loss to the Pacers in the second round.
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Garland spent the offseason recovering and rehabbing the injury after surgery and has been ramping up during the regular season for his return to the court. He spent a short stint with the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate and has since been working out with his teammates and participating in pregame warmups.
Garland made his second career All-Star game in 2024-25. For the season, he averaged 20.6 points, 6.7 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 47.2% from the floor and 40.1% from 3. He and fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell make up one of the league’s most prolific scoring backcourts.
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The Cavaliers are off to a 4-3 start without Garland. They’re banking on Garland, Mitchell and Evan Mobley to lead them to an Eastern Conference title after last season produced the East’s best record at 64-18.