The Cleveland Cavaliers took a chance on shooting guard Sam Merrill three seasons ago, then gave him a four-year contract extension this past summer. It continues to pay dividends for them.
Merrill scored 11 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter Monday, including three 3-pointers, as Cleveland rallied for a 118-106 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks.
The Cavaliers’ six-game homestand continues Wednesday when Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets make their only regular season visit to Northeast Ohio.
Cleveland relied on Merrill’s hot hand throughout its comeback against Milwaukee, watching him pour in 6 of 9 3-point attempts after hurting a finger on his shooting hand on the opening possession of the game.
“I jammed it on that first play,” said Merrill, who ranks 11th in the league in 3-pointers made and is 28th in 3-point percentage (44.4%). “To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to shoot, but adrenaline is a real thing so I figured it out.”
Franchise player Donovan Mitchell had 37 points and seven assists, while reigning Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley had 14 points and six assists in the Cavaliers’ second straight win.
The league announced Tuesday it had fined the Cavaliers $100,000 for violating the player participation policy when Mitchell and Mobley sat out last Wednesday’s game against the Miami Heat.
Cleveland remains a work in progress with All-Star point guard Darius Garland out with a recurring left toe issue, but has won 10 of its first 15 games and sits second in the Eastern Conference.
Mitchell said Merrill has been a stabilizing force with his perimeter shotmaking, as well as his advice. They became friends while Mitchell was playing for the Utah Jazz and Merrill was attending Utah State.
“(Sam is) a guy that I can lean on, and we can lean on each other, to be honest,” Mitchell said. ” … We sit on every flight and watch film and go over things. … He’s a guy who I’ve known since before he got to the NBA. He’s always honest, and I love him for it.”
The Rockets have had several days to recuperate following a 117-113 overtime win over the Orlando Magic at home on Sunday. Alperin Sengun forced OT with a hook shot just before the regulation buzzer after Durant nailed a 3-pointer to keep them within reach.
Durant had 35 points and six assists, and rapidly developing center Sengun came close to a triple-double with 30 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists.
“We were in the mud for a while there, but we just had to get over the hump,” Durant said. “Everyone just kept on pushing and everyone stayed poised. That’s the name of the game for us.”
Despite losing point guard Fred VanVleet to a season-ending knee injury before training camp and acquiring future Hall of Famer Durant in a seven-team trade in June, Houston is off to a 9-3 start and has the fourth-best record in the league.
Durant credits coach Ime Udoka and his assistants for making his transition seamless.
“We’re figuring it out and each tough game we go through like this makes us better,” he said. “We’ve got a great coaching staff who get us ready for the other teams, so we know what to expect. I’m looking forward to the next game.”
Houston has won the past three meetings against the Cavaliers.
