Darius Garland Plays 20 Minutes in Return from Fractured Jaw

Cleveland Cavaliers star guard Darius Garland dropped 19 points on 7-12 shooting in his first game action since suffering a fractured jaw on Dec. 14.

Garland also added 3 assists and 2 steals in 20 minutes during Wednesday's 128-121 win over the Detroit Pistons.

The Vanderbilt alumnus has played in 21 games this season, missing 18 games from mid-December to the end of January. He also missed four games early in the season due to injury.

Garland is averaging 20.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 5.8 assists this season with 47.4/34.5/84 shooting splits.

Cleveland was also without forward Evan Mobley from Dec. 6 through Jan. 27 after he underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery.

Despite missing those two for a majority of the season, the Cavaliers are fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 29-16 record. The team has also won 9 of its last 10 games, including recent victories over the Clippers and Milwaukee Bucks.