The Cleveland Cavaliers are the true definition of a team.
That means that even though the core four usually get all the credit, they know just how vital every player has been to their success.
Anybody can step up on any given night, and Kenny Atkinson’s confidence in his bench has often paid big dividends.
That happened again in the Cavs’ lopsided win over the Dallas Mavericks.
Sam Merrill may have had his best game as a pro, making the most of the extended opportunities as the game got out of hand.
As pointed out by Cavs Notes on X, Merrill became just the fourth player in Cavs history to knock down at least nine three-pointers in a single game.
.@smerrill05 became the 4th player in @cavs history to make 9+ 3FG in a single game, and the 1st to do so off the bench.
Kyrie Irving – 11 3FG (1/28/15 vs. POR)
Darius Garland – 10 3FG (11/13/22 vs. MIN)
C.J. Miles – 10 3FG (1/7/14 vs. PHI)
SAM MERRILL – 9 3FG (Tonight vs. DAL)— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) February 2, 2025
He finished the game with 27 points on 9-of-14 from the floor, and all but one of his shot attempts were from beyond the arc.
Merrill, who averages roughly seven points per game on 18 minutes a night, was almost automatic in 23 minutes of action, adding one rebound in the win.
The sharpshooting small forward joined players like Kyrie Irving (11 3FG in 2015), Darius Garland (10 3FG in 2022), and C.J. Miles (10 3FG in 2014).
Notably, the trade deadline is just a couple of days away, and this performance may have either put several teams on notice or made the front office realize that Merrill is a valuable member of the team.
NEXT: Kenny Atkinson Was Asked About Cavs' Trade Deadline Plans
