Cavaliers G Darius Garland (toe) out for Game 3 vs. Heat

Field Level Media|published: 04/26/2025, 1:17pm EDT

Apr 20, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland (10) celebrates after making a three-point basket in the fourth quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Darius Garland will sit out Saturday's Game 3 of the Eastern Conference first-round series against the host Miami Heat due to a toe injury.

Sam Merrill will start in his first career playoff game in the absence of Garland, who was downgraded from questionable to out with the sprained left toe injury that has plagued him down the stretch of the regular season. Garland aggravated it in the final minutes of the Cavaliers' 121-112 victory over the Heat on Wednesday.

Garland, 25, is averaging 24.0 points and seven assists in the first two games of the series.

Cleveland holds a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven set.

--Field Level Media