With Garland practicing on Friday, there was hope that he would return to action on Sunday despite sitting out Saturday’s practice session (it was a scheduled day off). Unfortunately, the Cavaliers guard was not on the court during his usual pregame warmup time, and he has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s series opener. Sam Merrill started the final two games of Cleveland’s first-round series and will retain that role against the Pacers.

Garland practiced on Friday, and head coach Kenny Atkinson said this was a scheduled day off to see how his toe responded. His status for Game 1 on Sunday is up in the air, but this isn’t an alarming absence from practice. Garland missed Games 3 and 4 against the Heat, and Sam Merrill would likely continue to start if Garland remains out.

This will be a second straight absence for Garland after he also missed Saturday’s 37-point drubbing. Sam Merrill started in his place in Game 3 and should remain in that role once again, though Ty Jerome will also take on more minutes off the bench.

Garland did not play in Saturday’s Game 3 victory, a game the Cavaliers won by a 37-point margin. Sam Merrill replaced him in the starting lineup, but the point guard’s absence also meant more opportunities for Ty Jerome. Cleveland holds a 3-0 series lead, but that is not expected to factor into the medical staff’s thinking regarding Garland’s availability.