PHILADELPHIA — The recovery timelines for Darius Garland and Sam Merrill are still unclear, as both will undergo further evaluation when the team returns to Cleveland this weekend.
Garland and Merrill suffered injuries during Wednesday night’s 133-107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Neither will play in Friday’s rematch, joining Dean Wade (knee contusion) and Max Strus (foot surgery) on the inactive list.
The Cavs have two days off this weekend before hosting the reigning champion Thunder at Rocket Arena Monday afternoon. Saturday is supposed to be an off day. A practice is tentatively scheduled for Sunday.
Garland, who exited late in the third quarter, is out with what is being classified as right great toe soreness.
“I talked to him today and he was in great spirits,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said Friday night. “He had some soreness, obviously, but no specific timetable. He will be re-evaluated in Cleveland.”
Given Garland’s health history, any injury is cause for concern. But the Cavs have been breathing a bit easier over the last 48 hours since it’s not the same problematic toe that required offseason surgery and kept Garland out for the first few weeks of the 2025-26 regular season. It’s the other great toe. On the opposite foot. And the nature of this injury is believed to be different as well.
Garland, who just recently started returning to his pre-injury form, is second on the team in scoring, averaging 18.0 points to go with 6.9 assists.
Merrill, meanwhile, re-injured his right hand Wednesday night and has been diagnosed with a sprain — the same injury that cost him about a month earlier this season. Sources tell cleveland.com that the bruising and swelling is not nearly as severe this time around.
Prior to Friday’s game, Atkinson said Merrill has not undergone any fresh imaging. In the locker room pregame, Merrill was able to use his right hand without issue — another difference from the Nov. 17 injury, when he couldn’t write, eat or do any other normal day-to-day activities with his dominant hand.
“He has been banged up for a little bit here,” Atkinson said of Merrill. “We will know more when we get back home.”
For Merrill, it’s the latest setback during what has been a breakthrough campaign, averaging career-bests in points (13.8), field goal percentage (47.0), 3-point percentage (45.5), assists (2.3), rebounds (2.4) and minutes (25.8).
Friday will be his 19th missed game this season.
