DETROIT — The Cavaliers might be without a key rotational guard when they meet the Detroit Pistons in Game 2 of their second-round NBA playoff series.
Sam Merrill, who left Game 1 and didn’t return with a left hamstring injury, has been listed as questionable for Game 2, set for 7 p.m. May 7. The Pistons won Game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead.
Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said Merrill underwent an MRI, but the team didn’t have too much information beyond that.
“Still waiting, I don’t want to give you anything definite,” Atkinson said at a shootaround at Little Caesars Arena May 6.
Merrill was an active role player off the bench in a first-round series against the Toronto Raptors, which the Cavs won in seven games to advance to the conference semifinals to face the No. 1-seeded Pistons.
Jaylon Tyson and Keon Ellis could receive an uptick in minutes with Merrill unavailable, but his 3-point shooting is an element the Cavs might miss.
“It’s tough. We need to make 3s to win this series,” Atkinson said. “We pack the paint. We got to make 3s. He’s a big part of that. So, hoping he’s back. But, on the other hand, we got Keon who came in and gave us really good minutes, I thought. Jaylon, obviously a really good 3-point shooter.
“We’ll probably have to lean on those guys if Sam isn’t back right away.”
Ryan Lewis covers the Cavaliers for the Akron Beacon Journal. He can be reached at rlewis1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavaliers injury report vs Pistons as Sam Merrill’s status unclear
Reporting by Ryan Lewis, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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