Darius Garland to miss significant time with fractured jaw
Mar 14, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) smiles after a basket during the second half against the Los Angeles Clippers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
The Cleveland Cavaliers have had a middling start to the season, and things are getting worse for them with a major injury.
Garland will miss several weeks after sustaining a fractured jaw during Thursday’s game against the Boston Celtics, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Darius Garland has sustained a fractured jaw and is expected to miss several weeks, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Garland suffered an injury to the head area in a collision with Kristaps Porzingis on Thursday night in Boston. pic.twitter.com/gLRSYDRZXk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 15, 2023
Garland suffered the injury in a fairly bizarre way, as he was trying to drive on Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis and appeared to simply collide with Porzingis’ midsection.
Darius Garland left the game after being hit in the face. He has returned to the bench area. #LetEmKnow | @cavs pic.twitter.com/yW1jQhboEy
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) December 15, 2023
The 23-year-old point guard has become one of Cleveland’s most prominent players after they made him the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Through 20 games this season, he is averaging 20.7 points and 5.9 assists per game.
The Cavaliers were a playoff team last year, but they have started with a modest 13-12 record this year. Garland missing several weeks of action probably will not help.