Stephen A Smith chastized an injured Darius Garland for not playing.
The Cleveland Cavaliers opened their second-round series as considerable favorites, but they’re suddenly down 2-0 after losing two home games to the Indiana Pacers. Garland missed both games after sitting out Cleveland’s final two games against the Miami Heat with a toe injury. Evan Mobley and De’Andre Hunter also didn’t play in Tuesday’s 120-119 loss.
On Wednesday’s First Take, Smith urged Garland to play hurt from the comfort of a TV studio.
“A toe injury is significant, can be very painful. I understand that,” Smith said. “As far as I’m concerned, you gotta be damn near crippled if you can’t play.”
“You’re on the brink of elimination. … Limp yo ass out there no matter which way you got to do it.”
—@stephenasmith on Darius Garland’s toe injury 😅 pic.twitter.com/xYnZmp9gQJ
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 7, 2025
Smith mistakenly cited the Game 1 stats when noting that Pacers guards Tyrese Haliburton and Andrew Nembhard combined to register 45 points, 19 assists, and one turnover on Tuesday night. The ESPN pundit said Donovan Mitchell “needs help” from a true point guard after notching 48 points in Game 2’s loss.
Smith urged Garland to wear a bigger shoe or extra padding to get on the court.
“Now you missed four straight games, Darius Garland. I mean, damn, you got all offseason to heal,” Smith continued. “Somehow, some way. I mean, you’re on the brink of elimination. You got to get out there. You got to find a way. Limp your a** out there no matter which way you got to do it.”
After Game 1’s loss, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said Garland was “desperate to play.” While acknowledging how much the team misses his speed and shot-making, he didn’t want to rush back the 25-year-old if Garland isn’t ready to compete at a high level.
“We don’t want him out 60 percent, 50 percent. Not with the way they’re pressuring the ball,” Atkinson said. “It just doesn’t make sense. We obviously need him.”
Meanwhile, Smith probably would have gone on a tirade blasting Garland if he played ineffectively through pain.
It’s obviously reckless to tell an injured player to play injured without knowing what they’re experiencing. Yet the Cavs could be in trouble if Garland doesn’t return for Game 3 this Friday night at Indiana.
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