The Cleveland Cavaliers are facing a significant setback as All-Star guard Darius Garland has been ruled out for Game 3 of their Eastern Conference first-round series against the Miami Heat due to a sprained left big toe. Garland aggravated his injury during Game 2, which the Cavs won to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. Coach Kenny Atkinson's attempt to assess Garland's readiness in warmups did not yield positive results, leading to his exclusion from the lineup.

Adding to the drama, Garland's comments prior to the game about targeting Tyler Herro in Cleveland's game plan have stirred tensions, provoking an equally fiery response from Herro, who questioned Garland's defensive capabilities. Despite these off-court distractions, both coaches downplayed the verbal exchanges, emphasizing that on-court performance is what ultimately matters. Garland’s absence is a notable loss as he has been pivotal for the Cavs this season, averaging 24 points and 7 assists in the playoffs.