Cavs Notes: Sam Merrill, Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell

Back in the starting lineup for just the second time since returning from a jammed finger, Sam Merrill immediately made his presence felt in the Cavaliers’ win over the Pelicans, as Ethan Sands of Cleveland.com details.

Merrill finished with 18 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, but the bigger impact came from how he stretched the floor alongside Darius Garland.

Their combined shooting forced the Pelicans to defend wider, opening lanes for everyone else.

Head coach Kenny Atkinson framed it in his own way before tipoff.

“You guys are going to get tired of me saying connector, connect, but he connects,” Atkinson said. “He connects the game. He connects the bigs and the smalls. He’s running. He’s causing chaos. And that opens up space.”

Merrill missed more than a month, and his absence coincided with the Cavs’ offensive dip. With him back, Cleveland looks less predictable and far more fluid.

Bench Balance Holds Up

With Merrill starting, Jaylon Tyson shifted back to a reserve role, joining De’Andre Hunter as scoring options off the bench.

Sands notes there was no stagnation when the starters exited, something that has plagued Cleveland at times this season.

Donovan Mitchell pointed to intensity and balance rather than shooting luck.

“I think it obviously helps when there’s so much unpredictability,” Mitchell said. “That’s who we are when we’re at full strength and at our best.

“We’ve shot well the past two nights, but the biggest thing is our intensity level on both ends.”

Allen Answers Test

Atkinson was also pleased with Jarrett Allen’s response to New Orleans’ physical frontcourt.

Cleveland dominated the paint 72-54 and held a 27-18 edge in second-chance points.

“My challenge with JA, he can do better. I want more,” Atkinson said. “This is how the playoffs are. They pound you. But I thought he put up pretty good resistance tonight. With Evan out, he’s kind of our guy.”

Mobley Update

Evan Mobley, originally projected to miss two to four weeks with a left calf strain, may be ahead of expectations.

He is listed as questionable for the Christmas Day game at New York, a development that would significantly alter Cleveland’s rotation.

Mitchell Carrying Load

According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, Mitchell’s career-high scoring average of 30.6 points per game and elevated usage rate are born of necessity, not preference.

“I don’t want him to,” Atkinson said. “I don’t think that’s sustainable long-term. Conference finals, Finals, we need more balance. And I do think we’ll get it as we get healthier, as Darius gets his rhythm and we get guys back. But right now, it’s on him.”

So yes, Mitchell is doing the heavy lifting. The Cavs’ hope is that reinforcements will soon allow him to do less of it.