The Cleveland Cavaliers are rolling into Game 3 of their first-round series against the Miami Heat with a commanding 2-0 lead and a red-hot offense. But just as the fire intensifies, there’s a chance one of the Cavs’ biggest stars might not be able to walk into the flames with them.

Darius Garland, Cleveland’s All-Star point guard and one of the key architects of their offensive success this postseason, was officially listed as questionable on Friday with a left great toe sprain. It’s the same injury that sidelined him during the final stretch of the regular season, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time. It’s not because the Cavs need Garland to survive Miami’s defense, but because Garland is the reason Miami is scrambling in the first place.

Through two playoff games, Garland has been nothing short of masterful. He’s averaging 24 points and 7 assists per game on a pristine 51.6 percent from the floor. The Cavs have a +11.9 net rating when he’s on the floor. He’s taken care of the ball (just 1.5 turnovers per game), picked his spots with surgical precision, and, perhaps most importantly, he’s picked on Tyler Herro.

That last point? It’s where the story turns personal.

There’s fire behind the smoke between the Cavs and Heat

After Cleveland’s 121-112 win in Game 2, Garland was asked how the Cavs were managing to maintain such offensive control against Miami’s pressure defense. His answer was short. Sharp. Damning.

“Pick on Tyler Herro.”

And just like that, the fuse was lit.

Herro, who has poured in 54 points on 50 percent shooting across the first two games, didn’t appreciate the jab. But the truth behind Garland’s quote is evident in the numbers. The Cavs have made Herro the focal point of their pick-and-roll attacks, targeting him as the screener’s defender in over 50 actions. Cleveland is averaging 1.2 points per possession on those plays, an elite mark in postseason basketball.

It’s not personal, Cleveland insists. It’s a strategy.

But in Miami? It’s fuel.

“To go to the media to talk about gameplan and this and that says a lot about him. I’m not worried about Darius Garland,” Herro told reporters after practice on Friday. “… Somebody that doesn’t play defense shouldn’t be talking either. He don’t play any defense and we’ll see that tomorrow. He don’t play no D.”

That’s not a dismissal. That’s a declaration of war. And it comes just as Garland’s status becomes uncertain for a pivotal Game 3 in Miami.

Darius Garland’s toe could make Game 3 chaotic for Cleveland

If Garland can’t go, the Cavs will need to rework their entire offensive rhythm. Donovan Mitchell would likely slide into more of a primary ball-handler role, with Ty Jerome expected to lead the second unit. Sam Merrill or Isaac Okoro could step into the starting five, but replacing Garland’s blend of pace, control, and shot-making is no small ask.

The silver lining? The Cavs have enough talent to withstand one game without Garland. They’ve proven it by dominating this series even when Miami shifts its defensive schemes. But without their floor general, the chessboard changes, and so does the energy in the arena.

Kaseya Center will be hostile. Miami’s season is on the line. And with Herro, Bam Adebayo, and Erik Spoelstra taking Garland’s comment to heart, the Cavs will be walking into a playoff powder keg.

“You can’t hide,” Adebayo said. “That’s what I love about the playoffs. Obviously, he said what he said. We all take that personally. Not only Tyler, [but] we all take that personally. We got a game tomorrow at one, early in the morning, get some sleep tonight, and then we get it cracking in the morning.”

But what if Garland can’t crack back? That’s the tension hanging over Game 3. Not just whether the Cavs can keep scoring. Not just whether they can contain Miami. But whether Garland will be healthy enough to finish what he started and face the smoke he summoned.

The Cavs don’t want to hide Darius Garland

For Garland, this series was never just about redemption from last year’s early exit. It was about transformation. Over the offseason, he added muscle. He focused on defense. Kenny Atkinson, the Cavs’ first-year head coach, made his expectations clear from day one.

“I don’t want to hide him anymore,” Atkinson said earlier this season. “It’s playoff basketball. He’s got to accept a challenge. In a seven-game series, they’re gonna get you involved defensively. You’re gonna have to guard and still do what you’re doing offensively. So, to me, that’s probably, as a star status, a superstar status is being able to do it [on] both ends. … And that’s gonna be Darius.”

Garland has. And in doing so, he’s issued challenges of his own.

Now, as Game 3 looms and the stakes skyrocket, the story becomes something bigger. This isn’t just about a sore toe or a questionable status. It’s about whether Garland can walk the walk after talking the talk.

Because if he does play—and if he plays well—he has the chance to bury the Heat, swing the narrative, and cement his rise from a finesse scorer to a true playoff difference-maker. But if he doesn’t? Miami smells blood. Herro has a point to prove. And the entire city will be waiting to erupt.

This matinee in South Beach won’t just be about matchups. It’ll be about pride. About resilience and who steps up when the spotlight is hottest.

Garland’s status is uncertain. The drama is not. Game 3 awaits, and the storm is coming.