Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Handles light role in series opener
Rotowire
Merrill (neck) was held scoreless (0-2 FG, 0-2 3Pt) with two rebounds and one assist in four minutes Saturday in the Cavaliers' 97-83 win over the Magic in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.
Merrill had missed the Cavaliers' final three games of the regular season with a neck strain, but he was back in action for the playoff opener. The fourth-year wing was barely able to hold down a spot in head coach J.B. Bickerstaff's rotation, however, as Merrill played just four minutes in the second quarter and didn't check into the contest at any point in the second half.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: No restrictions for Game 1
Rotowire
Merrill (neck) isn't expected to face any restrictions Saturday in Game 1 of the Cavaliers' opening-round series with the Magic, Spencer Davies of SI.com reports.
Merrill sat out the final three games of the regular season due to a neck strain. The 27-year-old is good to go for the start of the Cavaliers' postseason run, but he won't be guaranteed a sizable role in the rotation while Cleveland has all of its key wings available.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Set to return for Game 1
Rotowire
Merrill (illness) isn't on the injury report for Saturday's Game 1 against the Magic.
Merrill sat out the final three games of the regular season due to a neck strain, but he'll be able to suit up to begin the playoffs. The 27-year-old averaged 8.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game during the regular season.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Participates in practice
Rotowire
Merrill (neck) went through Wednesday's practice without issue, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Merrill missed the final three games of the regular season due to a neck strain. However, Merrill's participation in practice is a good sign of his availability for Saturday's Game 1 against the Magic.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Won't play Wednesday
Rotowire
Merrill (neck) is out for Wednesday's game versus the Grizzlies, Serena Winters of Bally Sports Cleveland reports.
Merrill has been downgraded from doubtful to out Wednesday after suffering a neck strain while attempting to take a charge versus the Clippers. His next chance to play is Friday's matchup with Indiana.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Dealing with neck injury
Rotowire
Merrill missed Tuesday's practice due to a neck injury, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com reports.
Merrill suffered the injury during the first half of Sunday's loss to the Clippers while attempting to take a charge on Paul George. "He almost got like a whiplash type of thing," coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. Merrill's official status for Wednesday's game against Memphis has yet to be released.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Pops for 18 points from bench
Rotowire
Merrill recorded 18 points (6-13 FG, 6-12 3Pt), four rebounds and five assists in 32 minutes during Tuesday's 129-113 win over the Jazz.
Merrill was lethal from the perimeter, converting six three-pointers in a masterful run with the second unit. Merrill's success is entirely dependent on the long ball, and with a 41.1 percent conversion rate on the season, positive totals usually come his way with a high shot volume beyond the arc.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Hits five threes vs. Charlotte
Rotowire
Merrill registered 17 points (5-11 FG, 5-11 3Pt, 2-3 FT), three rebounds, two assists and one steal in 24 minutes during Wednesday's 118-111 loss to the Hornets.
Wednesday marked the eighth time this season Merrill has hit five or more threes in a game. He's gone 9-for-19 from beyond the arc over his last two games following an 0-for-6 outing against the Heat on March 24. Merrill has played 20-plus minutes in 12 of his last 14 games, and he is averaging 9.5 points on 36.1 percent three-point shooting, 2.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 24.6 minutes per game in March.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Hits four threes off bench vs. Heat
Rotowire
Merrill tallied 12 points (4-9 FG, 4-9 3Pt) and one rebound over 21 minutes in Wednesday's 107-104 loss to Miami.
Merrill has gone 14-for-30 from three over his last four games and has played at least 20 minutes in six straight contests. With Donovan Mitchell (nose) and Max Strus (knee) sidelined, Caris LeVert has been inserted into the starting lineup, meaning that Merrill will be the first guard off the bench for the Cavaliers in the short term.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Just misses double-double
Rotowire
Merrill logged 15 points (5-10 FG, 5-10 3Pt), two rebounds and nine assists over 28 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 116-95 win over New Orleans.
The nine assists were a career high for the 27-year-old guard, as Merrill played at least 18 minutes for the eighth straight game. That could end up being the high point of his latest run, however -- with Donovan Mitchell back on the court after missing the first seven of those games, there won't be as big a role available for Merrill in the Cleveland backcourt. He's proven he can make a contribution, but it might take another injury to put him back on the fantasy radar,
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Not starting Wednesday
Rotowire
Merrill isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Hawks, Serena Winters of Bally Sports Cleveland reports.
Merrill drew a start Tuesday and scored six points (2-7 FG) in 30 minutes. However, he'll head to the bench with Cleveland opting to start Georges Niang, Dean Wade and Jarrett Allen in the frontcourt, as Evan Mobley (ankle) is slated for a multi-week absence. Over his last three appearances, Merrill has averaged 13.0 points in 28.0 minutes per game.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Gets the start Tuesday
Rotowire
Merrill will start in place of Max Strus (knee) for Tuesday's game versus Boston.
Merrill profiles as a pivotal weapon to combat the lethal shooting of Boston's starting five. The 27-year-old has posted 11-for-22 three-point shooting across his last two contests. He starts alongside Darius Garland and Isaac Okoro in a shorthanded Cleveland rotation.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Makes four threes in win Friday
Rotowire
Merrill finished with 12 points (4-9 FG, 4-9 3Pt), three rebounds and one assist over 25 minutes during Friday's 110-100 victory over the Pistons.
Merrill contributed offensively with his outside shooting, registering his ninth game with four or more three-pointers made. The former Utah State standout went through a rough patch in February, averaging just 4.8 points per game, but he still shot 44.1 percent from three-point range, so it was more a case of him not getting enough touches instead of struggling with his mechanics. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Merrill doesn't have a lot of fantasy upside due to his limited role off the bench, though in a best-case scenario, he's better suited to be a decent streaming alternative for managers in need of three-point stats in category-based formats.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Not on Thursday's injury report
Rotowire
Merrill (illness) isn't on the injury report for Thursday's game against the Magic.
Merrill missed the Cavaliers' final game before the All-Star break due to an illness, but he should be back in action as the team returns from the layoff. If Donovan Mitchell (illness) is sidelined, Merrill could see a slight uptick in playing time.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Out for Wednesday
Rotowire
Merrill (illness) has been ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Bulls, Chris Fedor of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Merrill will sit out Cleveland's final game heading into the All-Star break with an illness, but he should be fine for their next game Feb. 22. He's not a large enough part of the rotation for his playing status to impact fantasy hoops.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Questionable with illness
Rotowire
Merrill is questionable for Wednesday's game against the Bulls with an illness.
Both Darius Garland (illness) and Merrill were late additions to the injury report. Merrill has played a minor role in February, averaging 12.6 minutes per game.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Sees seven minutes
Rotowire
Merrill logged zero points (0-1 FG) over seven minutes during Monday's 118-108 victory over the Clippers.
The Cavaliers are starting to get healthier, and Darius Garland (jaw) is expected back in the lineup Wednesday. Merrill has hit 42.8 percent of his three-pointers this season, but minutes could be hard to come by going forward.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Drops five triples Saturday
Rotowire
Merrill supplied 18 points (6-16 FG, 5-14 3Pt, 1-1 FT), four rebounds and six assists over 30 minutes during Saturday's 116-95 victory over Atlanta.
Merrill continues to provide the Cavaliers with a viable perimeter threat off the bench, landing five triples en route to 18 points. He has scored double-digits in seven of the past eight games, connecting on multiple three-pointers in all eight. Darius Garland (jaw) is likely to miss at least the next three games, meaning Merrill can continue to be deployed as a reliable stream option.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Lights it up from deep off bench
Rotowire
Merrill racked up 18 points (5-11 FG, 5-9 3Pt, 3-3 FT), three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes during Sunday's 117-115 win over the Spurs.
Merrill led all players in Sunday's contest in threes made while ending as one of five Cavaliers with a double-digit point total in a winning effort. Merrill posted his third game this year with five or more threes and has now scored in double digits in four straight contests.
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Cavaliers' Sam Merrill: Will be available
Rotowire
Merrill (wrist) will be available for Friday's game against Milwaukee.
Merrill missed the last two games with a sprained wrist, but he's been cleared from the injury report and will be available off the bench for the shorthanded Cavs. Cleveland will also get Donovan Mitchell (illness) back after a four-game absence.
