CLEVELAND, Ohio — Donovan Mitchell is in for Tuesday’s Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals — just as he promised the other night. But the Cavs, beset by injuries in these playoffs, will be less than full strength.
Again.
Reserve guard Sam Merrill is out because of a neck strain that caused him to be a late addition to the team’s injury report.
Merrill played 14 minutes in Cleveland’s Game 4 loss. He has appeared in all eight playoff games to this point, averaging 5.8 points on 37.5% shooting and 35.9% from 3-point range in 19.9 minutes off the bench.
Merrill becomes the fourth Cavalier to miss at least one game during this best-of-seven series.
De’Andre Hunter (thumb), Evan Mobley (ankle) and Darius Garland (toe) continue to battle injuries. Mitchell was listed as questionable going into Game 5 because of a sprained ankle that kept him from playing the entire second half of Sunday’s Game 4 loss — an injury suffered during halftime warmups.
Cleveland trails the series 3-1.
Only 13 teams in NBA history have rallied back from that deficit to win the best-of-seven.