Cavaliers could be severely short-handed in Game 2

The Cavs had been playing without starting guard Darius Garland since Game 2 of their first-round series, due to a toe injury. Now, starting forward Evan Mobley and sixth man De'Andre Hunter are also questionable for Tuesday's Game 2 against the Indiana Pacers after injuries they suffered in the fourth quarter of Cleveland's 121-112 loss.

Hunter sprained his thumb after a block by Bennedict Mathurin, who appeared to contact Hunter's body on his way to the ball.

Mobley injured his ankle on a play where he sank a turnaround nine-footer and landed on Myles Turner's foot. He left the game briefly midway through the quarter, and while he returned, Mobley didn't score again.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson took issue with the plays, even after video review called Mathurin's block clean. 

"I don't think they were dirty plays, but I think it passed a line of physicality," Atkinson told reporters. "Maybe I don't know the rules. I felt [Hunter] got absolutely obliterated and dislocated his thumb, so he'll be questionable."

That will mean more minutes for super sub Ty Jerome. Atkinson, named Coach of the Year Monday, will have to mix and match his forwards with Dean Wade, Isaac Okoro and Sam Merrill all getting looks against the Pacers, perhaps even little-used Javonte Green.

Cleveland is expected to bounce back from a miserable shooting night in Game 1, where the Pacers scored 30 more points than them on three-pointers. But if the Cavaliers end up short-handed or hobbled, especially against the constantly running Pacers, Game 2 could be another nightmare for the Eastern Conference's top seed.