The Cleveland Cavaliers are gearing up for a crucial Game 3 on Friday night, down 0-2 to the Indiana Pacers, and they are getting a significant boost with the return of three key players. Darius Garland (toe), Evan Mobley (ankle), and De’Andre Hunter (thumb) are all available for Game 3, with Garland and Mobley returning to their starting roles.

This marks an important moment for Cleveland, as their most-used starting lineup during the regular season, which had an impressive +12.5 net rating, has played just 23 minutes across six playoff games due to injury. When they have played together, the Cavaliers have struggled, posting a -5.1 net rating.

The Cavaliers desperately need Garland and Mobley to alleviate some of the ball-handling and shot-creation burden off Donovan Mitchell. In Game 2, Mitchell scored a spectacular 48 points and led the Cavs to a 20-point lead, but his performance waned in the fourth quarter. He shot just 2-of-6 in the final period, and the Pacers capitalized, coming back to win the game.

Garland has been dealing with turf toe, which has limited his play since the regular season. His injury worsened in Cleveland’s first-round series against Miami, causing him to miss the final two games of that series and the first two games against Indiana. Mobley and Garland were both hurt on back-to-back possessions in the fourth quarter of Game 1 against Indiana. Mobley rolled his ankle after being crowded by Myles Turner while attempting a shot, and Hunter dislocated his thumb after a blocked dunk attempt by Bennedict Mathurin.

Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson stated that while he didn’t believe the Pacers’ plays were intentional, he felt the officials needed to do more to protect player safety.

With these key players returning, Cleveland will look to even the series and avoid falling into a deeper hole against the Pacers.