Sam Merrill scores career-high 27 as Cavaliers, without Donovan Mitchell, beat the Jazz 124-116
CLEVELAND (AP) Sam Merrill set career highs with 27 points and eight 3-pointers off the bench, Caris LeVert scored 23 points, and the short-handed Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Utah Jazz 124-116 on Wednesday night.
Merrill buried three 3-pointers during a 17-2 run to open the fourth quarter, giving Cleveland its largest lead at 109-95. He finished 9 of 16 from the field, including 8 of 14 beyond the arc, and 1 of 2 from the foul line in a career-best 30 minutes.
A fourth-year pro from Utah State, Merrill had set career highs of 19 points and five 3s in a 135-130 overtime win over Houston on Monday.
“I grew up as a Jazz fan in Utah, so to be able to have a game like this against them is even more special,” Merrill said. “To do that while we’re winning games, that’s what you dream about as a kid. You’ve got to enjoy these moments, for sure.”
Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell sat out the game against his former team with an illness. The four-time All-Star, who is averaging 27.7 points, spent his first five seasons with Utah before being traded on Sept. 1, 2022.
Cleveland also was without power forward Evan Mobley (left knee surgery) and point guard Darius Garland (broken jaw), who are not expected to return until February.
“This isn’t going to be a ‘one person lifts us up’ situation, and I thought our guys have done a phenomenal job picking up the slack,” Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “It speaks to the character of these guys and their willingness to sacrifice.”
Max Strus scored 18 points on six 3-pointers and Jarrett Allen had 17 points and eight rebounds for Cleveland, which made 23 3-pointers on a franchise-record 51 attempts. The Cavaliers are 3-0 on a four-game homestand since losing Mobley and Garland.
Lauri Markkanen had 26 points and 10 rebounds, Collin Sexton scored 20 points, and Talen Horton-Tucker had 19 points and tied his career high with 11 assists for the Jazz. Utah is 2-13 on the road and will not return home until Dec. 30 against Miami.
Markkanen, Sexton and Ochai Agbaji were acquired by the Jazz in exchange for Mitchell, along with three first-round draft picks and multiple second-round selections.
“Me and Lauri wanted to win this game so bad,” said Sexton, who received a warm ovation in his first game back in Cleveland. “It definitely felt good how the fans reacted, knowing this is where I came from and how much the community means to me.”
Georges Niang scored 15 points and Tristan Thompson had 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals, helping Cleveland’s reserves outscore their counterparts 75-32.
Merrill buried five 3-pointers and had 17 points in the first half as Cleveland took a 62-56 lead into the break. Neither team was ahead by more than nine points until the final quarter.
“Every one of us really believed we could still make a run at the end,” Markkanen said. “They just shot the ball really well from three. Once a team makes a couple in a row, they start feeling good and it’s very hard to stop them.”
UP NEXT
Jazz: Visit Detroit on Thursday night.
Cavaliers: Host New Orleans on Thursday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Walker Kessler vs. Jarrett Allen (Dean Wade gains possession) | ||
| 11:43 | | Isaac Okoro misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:40 |  | Lauri Markkanen defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 11:04 | | +3 | Max Strus makes three point pullup jump shot (Dean Wade assists) | 0-3 |
| 10:43 | | +3 | Lauri Markkanen makes three point stepback jump shot (Talen Horton-Tucker assists) | 3-3 |
| 10:23 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point layup (Isaac Okoro assists) | 3-5 |
| 10:01 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:57 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Max Strus turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 9:29 | | +3 | Collin Sexton makes three point jump shot (Talen Horton-Tucker assists) | 6-5 |
| 9:18 | | +2 | Craig Porter Jr. makes two point pullup jump shot (Isaac Okoro assists) | 6-7 |
| 9:00 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:57 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 8:52 | | Max Strus misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 8:50 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 8:43 | | Dean Wade personal foul (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | ||
| 8:36 | | Walker Kessler misses two point alley-oop layup | ||
| 8:33 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 8:23 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point hook shot (Isaac Okoro assists) | 6-9 |
| 8:15 | | Isaac Okoro shooting foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 8:15 | | Collin Sexton misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 8:15 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 8:15 | | +1 | Collin Sexton makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-9 |
| 7:57 | | Isaac Okoro misses two point driving layup | ||
| 7:55 | | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 7:53 | | Simone Fontecchio turnover (traveling) | ||
| 7:38 | | +3 | Dean Wade makes three point jump shot (Max Strus assists) | 7-12 |
| 7:38 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:29 | | Kris Dunn offensive foul (Dean Wade draws the foul) | ||
| 7:29 | | Kris Dunn turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 7:11 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point driving layup | 7-14 |
| 6:57 | | +3 | Collin Sexton makes three point jump shot (Simone Fontecchio assists) | 10-14 |
| 6:37 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point floating jump shot (Craig Porter Jr. assists) | 10-16 |
| 6:22 | | Collin Sexton misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 6:19 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 6:15 | | +2 | Craig Porter Jr. makes two point running layup | 10-18 |
| 5:58 | | +3 | Kris Dunn makes three point jump shot (Lauri Markkanen assists) | 13-18 |
| 5:36 | | Kelly Olynyk blocks Jarrett Allen's two point layup | ||
| 5:32 | | Collin Sexton defensive rebound | ||
| 5:30 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:29 | | Kelly Olynyk offensive rebound | ||
| 5:27 | | Collin Sexton misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:25 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 5:17 | | Jarrett Allen offensive foul (Collin Sexton draws the foul) | ||
| 5:17 | | Jarrett Allen turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 5:08 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point alley-oop dunk (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 15-18 |
| 5:00 | | Simone Fontecchio personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 4:52 | | Caris LeVert misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 4:50 | | Isaac Okoro offensive rebound | ||
| 4:48 | | Collin Sexton personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 4:39 | | Max Strus turnover (bad pass) (Kelly Olynyk steals) | ||
| 4:31 | | +3 | Kris Dunn makes three point jump shot (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 18-18 |
| 4:23 | | Kris Dunn personal foul (Jarrett Allen draws the foul) | ||
| 4:09 | | +2 | Georges Niang makes two point driving layup | 18-20 |
| 3:55 | | Kris Dunn turnover (traveling) | ||
| 3:39 | | Sam Merrill misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:37 | | Jazz defensive rebound | ||
| 3:22 | | Simone Fontecchio misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 3:20 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 3:13 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point running jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 18-23 |
| 3:01 | | John Collins misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 2:59 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 2:54 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point running jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 18-26 |
| 2:43 | | Kris Dunn turnover (bad pass) (Caris LeVert steals) | ||
| 2:36 | | Max Strus misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 2:34 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 2:29 | | +2 | Kelly Olynyk makes two point pullup jump shot | 20-26 |
| 2:13 | | Max Strus offensive foul (Kelly Olynyk draws the foul) | ||
| 2:13 | | Max Strus turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 2:13 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:50 | | Kelly Olynyk turnover (bad pass) (Tristan Thompson steals) | ||
| 1:43 | | +3 | Caris LeVert makes three point pullup jump shot | 20-29 |
| 1:23 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 1:21 | | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 1:14 | | Caris LeVert misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:11 | | Ochai Agbaji defensive rebound | ||
| 1:05 | | Sam Merrill shooting foul (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 1:05 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 21-29 |
| 1:05 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 22-29 |
| 0:53 | | Sam Merrill misses two point driving layup | ||
| 0:49 | | Tristan Thompson offensive rebound | ||
| 0:49 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point tip dunk | 22-31 |
| 0:40 | | +3 | Lauri Markkanen makes three point jump shot (Talen Horton-Tucker assists) | 25-31 |
| 0:26 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 0:24 | | Craig Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 0:20 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point cutting dunk (Sam Merrill assists) | 25-33 |
| 0:03 | | +2 | Talen Horton-Tucker makes two point driving layup | 27-33 |
| 0:00 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Caris LeVert assists) | 27-36 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:49 | | +3 | Ochai Agbaji makes three point jump shot (Talen Horton-Tucker assists) | 30-36 |
| 11:27 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:25 | | Lauri Markkanen defensive rebound | ||
| 11:18 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses two point driving layup | ||
| 11:14 | | Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:01 | | Georges Niang turnover (lost ball) (Talen Horton-Tucker steals) | ||
| 10:46 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:43 | | Tristan Thompson defensive rebound | ||
| 10:31 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:29 | | Dean Wade offensive rebound | ||
| 10:23 | | Georges Niang misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:21 | | Kelly Olynyk defensive rebound | ||
| 10:14 | | Sam Merrill shooting foul (John Collins draws the foul) | ||
| 10:14 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-36 |
| 10:14 | | +1 | John Collins makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 32-36 |
| 9:58 | | Kelly Olynyk blocks Tristan Thompson's two point hook shot | ||
| 9:54 | | Craig Porter Jr. offensive rebound | ||
| 9:52 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Craig Porter Jr. assists) | 32-39 |
| 9:42 | | +3 | John Collins makes three point jump shot (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 35-39 |
| 9:24 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point jump shot (Tristan Thompson assists) | 35-42 |
| 9:01 | | +3 | John Collins makes three point jump shot (Ochai Agbaji assists) | 38-42 |
| 8:54 | | +3 | Sam Merrill makes three point pullup jump shot (Craig Porter Jr. assists) | 38-45 |
| 8:35 | | +3 | Lauri Markkanen makes three point jump shot (Kelly Olynyk assists) | 41-45 |
| 8:10 | | John Collins blocks Craig Porter Jr.'s three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:07 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 7:54 | | Walker Kessler misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:50 | | Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 7:42 | | +2 | Tristan Thompson makes two point layup | 41-47 |
| 7:22 | | Craig Porter Jr. blocks Talen Horton-Tucker's two point driving layup | ||
| 7:16 | | Dean Wade defensive rebound | ||
| 7:15 | | +3 | Georges Niang makes three point running jump shot (Tristan Thompson assists) | 41-50 |
| 7:15 | | Jazz 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:04 | | +2 | Talen Horton-Tucker makes two point driving floating bank jump shot | 43-50 |
| 7:04 | | Georges Niang shooting foul (Talen Horton-Tucker draws the foul) | ||
| 7:04 | | Talen Horton-Tucker misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 7:01 | | Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:48 | | Sam Merrill misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:45 | | John Collins defensive rebound | ||
| 6:33 | | John Collins misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:30 | | Craig Porter Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 6:13 | | Max Strus turnover (bad pass) (Walker Kessler steals) | ||
| 6:05 | | Simone Fontecchio misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 6:03 | | Max Strus defensive rebound | ||
| 5:56 | | Max Strus misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:53 | | Simone Fontecchio defensive rebound | ||
| 5:48 | | +2 | Talen Horton-Tucker makes two point driving layup | 45-50 |
| 5:38 | | Simone Fontecchio shooting foul (Craig Porter Jr. draws the foul) | ||
| 5:38 | | +1 | Craig Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 45-51 |
| 5:38 | | +1 | Craig Porter Jr. makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 45-52 |
| 5:20 | | Craig Porter Jr. blocks Collin Sexton's two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:16 | | Isaac Okoro defensive rebound | ||
| 5:12 | | Craig Porter Jr. misses two point running layup | ||
| 5:12 | | Kris Dunn defensive rebound | ||
| 5:03 | | Georges Niang personal foul (Walker Kessler draws the foul) | ||
| 5:00 | | Walker Kessler offensive foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 5:00 | | Walker Kessler turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 4:45 | | +2 | Jarrett Allen makes two point alley-oop dunk (Max Strus assists) | 45-54 |
| 4:31 | | +2 | Walker Kessler makes two point cutting dunk (Collin Sexton assists) | 47-54 |
| 4:13 | | Jarrett Allen turnover (bad pass) (John Collins steals) | ||
| 4:07 | | +2 | John Collins makes two point running finger roll layup | 49-54 |
| 3:53 | | Max Strus misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:49 | | Dean Wade offensive rebound | ||
| 3:46 | | +2 | Isaac Okoro makes two point layup (Dean Wade assists) | 49-56 |
| 3:30 | | Collin Sexton turnover (traveling) | ||
| 3:14 | | Caris LeVert misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 3:11 | | Collin Sexton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:07 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point running layup | 51-56 |
| 2:48 | | Max Strus misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 2:48 | | Jarrett Allen offensive rebound | ||
| 2:48 | | Jarrett Allen misses two point tip layup | ||
| 2:48 | | Walker Kessler defensive rebound | ||
| 2:41 | | +2 | Collin Sexton makes two point running pullup jump shot | 53-56 |
| 2:41 | | Cavaliers 60 second timeout | ||
| 2:25 | | Dean Wade misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:21 | | Simone Fontecchio defensive rebound | ||
| 2:05 | | Lauri Markkanen misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:04 | | Jazz offensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | Max Strus shooting foul (Simone Fontecchio draws the foul) | ||
| 2:03 | | +1 | Simone Fontecchio makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 54-56 |
| 2:03 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||
| 2:03 | | Simone Fontecchio misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 1:47 | | Kris Dunn personal foul (Max Strus draws the foul) | ||
| 1:41 | | Collin Sexton personal foul (Caris LeVert draws the foul) | ||
| 1:41 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 54-57 |
| 1:41 | | +1 | Caris LeVert makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 54-58 |
| 1:27 | | Lauri Markkanen misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:25 | | Caris LeVert defensive rebound | ||
| 1:18 | | Sam Merrill misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:16 | | Simone Fontecchio defensive rebound | ||
| 1:04 | | Collin Sexton misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 1:02 | | Jarrett Allen defensive rebound | ||