BOSTON — The hits keep coming for the Cavs.
Still without point guard Darius Garland and swingman Max Strus — both of whom remain sidelined following offseason surgeries — another name has been added to the team’s injury list.
Shooting guard Sam Merrill, who has capably stepped into the starting lineup, will not play Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics because of a right hip contusion.
While the injury is considered minor, Merrill could be looking at a multiple-game absence.
During Monday’s 116-95 win over the Detroit Pistons, Merrill collided with teammate Evan Mobley and hurt his hip. At one point in the third quarter, Merrill went back to the locker room for further examination and was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“He’s hurting,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said postgame. “When Sam can’t come back in the game, it’s [hurting]. I think Evan actually hit him like in the hip. ... Looks like a hip pointer. Those are painful. We’ll see.”
Despite dealing with a preseason adductor injury that kept him out of the first three exhibitions, Merrill has gotten off to a great start to the regular season, with Atkinson even dubbing him the team’s “best player” early on.
In four games, Merrill is averaging 17.3 points on 52.5% from the field and 51.4% from 3-point range. His 18 made triples currently rank second in the NBA, behind just Golden State’s Stephen Curry.
Cleveland has typically taken a cautious approach with player health, as it prioritizes being fresh for the playoffs. The Cavs are likely to do the same with Merrill — even though his absence would be another short-term blow, leaving the team without three of its expected top eight nightly rotational pieces.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.