INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The injuries continue to pile up for the Cavs in what has become a cursed season.
Elite shooting reserve Sam Merrill is the latest addition to the injury report. Merrill did not participate in Tuesday’s practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts due to a neck injury suffered in the first half of Sunday afternoon’s road trip finale in Los Angeles. The injury could keep Merrill out Wednesday night — the start of a regular-season closing homestand.
“He almost had a whiplash,” Cavs coach JB Bickerstaff said. “His neck is sore. They’re doing further research just to see what’s going on and then we’ll have more information.
During the first quarter of Cleveland’s 120-118 loss, Merrill attempted to take the lead in transition against Clippers swingman Paul George. Not only was Merrill called for a foul on the play, but his head and neck appeared to snap back from the impact as he fell to the ground. Merrill stayed in the game for a few more minutes before leaving. He did not play in the second half.
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In six minutes against Los Angeles, Merrill went scoreless, missing his only shot attempt.
Versatile forward Dean Wade, who continues to nurse a sprained knee, also did not participate in Tuesday’s practice. Wade has been out for a little over three weeks and there is still no official word on when he will return. Sources say Wade could miss the rest of the regular season and his status for the first round of the playoffs is also uncertain.
The declining Cavs, 46-33, have lost three straight and eight of the last 11. They recently fell to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind Orlando and New York.
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