After a promising injury update on Cleveland Cavs All-Star Darius Garland amid training camp, he’s on the cusp of making his regular-season debut from a toe injury. Garland underwent surgery on a big toe injury that had plagued his performance in the playoffs last season.
The Cavs are now eyeing Garland’s return for the first week of November, according to ClutchPoints’ Brett Siegel.
“All-Star point guard Darius Garland is targeting a potential return from his left big toe surgery as early as the first week of November, league sources told ClutchPoints,” Sigel reported. “While Garland will be ready to go whenever the Cleveland Cavaliers’ medical staff gives him the green light, the organization is being cautious with how soon he returns to the court, resulting in no clear set date.”
The Cavs lost their season opener, 119-111, against the New York Knicks on Wednesday. All-Star Donovan Mitchell’s 31 points led five players in double figures, including Evan Mobley (22 points) and Sam Merrill (19 points). However, Darius Garland’s presence is undoubtedly missed alongside Mitchell in the Cavs’ backcourt due to an offseason toe injury.
Cleveland’s All-Star one-two punch in the backcourt caused fits for opposing defenses last season, and 2025-26 shouldn’t be any different, as the two 20-plus point scorers combined for 44.6 points per game. Garland earned his second All-Star selection, as the 25-year-old looks to build on one of the best campaigns of his career, during which he posted 20.6 points on 47.2% shooting, including 40.1% from deep, 6.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
Donovan Mitchell’s 21-point quarter not enough in Cavs’ loss
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
In a game where Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell scored 21 of his 31 points in the third quarter of Wednesday’s eight-point loss to the Knicks in their season opener at Madison Square Garden. The two heavyweights are considered a cut above the rest in the Eastern Conference, as the Knicks drew first blood in what should be a competitive head-to-head regular-season series between the two.
Fans will get a better picture of this year’s Cavs squad when All-Star Darius Garland makes his return in November. After a historic 64-win regular season that started 15-0 and included a 16-game win streak from February into March, the Cavs are looking to build on that dominance, which withered as injuries plagued their All-Star trio of Mitchell, Garland, and Evan Mobley.
