The Cleveland Cavaliers have listed Sam Merrill as OUT with a right hip contusion ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Boston Celtics. Merrill suffered the injury in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 116–95 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night, limiting him to just 18 minutes of action. Merrill had grabbed his hip earlier in the game, but continued to play through until the third quarter.
“He’s hurting,” Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson said following the win. “When Sam can’t come back in the game, it’s [painful]. I think Evan [Mobley] actually hit him in the hip. Somehow they [collided]. Looks like a hip pointer. Those are painful, so we’ll see. But he’s hurting right now.”
Merrill earned a spot in Cleveland’s starting lineup to open the 2025–26 season, filling in while Darius Garland and Max Strus remain sidelined with injuries. Through the team’s first four games, Merrill is averaging 17.3 points on 52.5% shooting from the field and 51.4% from three-point range — both career-best marks in what’s been an early-season breakout.
The timing of Merrill’s injury couldn’t be worse for a Cavaliers team just starting to find rhythm. His perimeter shooting has been crucial to the team’s 3–1 start, as he’s knocked down 18 total threes across four games. The return of De’Andre Hunter had started to stabilize the rotation, but Cleveland will once again need to adjust.
Head coach Atkinson will likely turn to Jaylon Tyson or Lonzo Ball to fill Merrill’s starting role. Merrill’s next chance to return will be Friday, October 31st, when the Cavaliers host the Toronto Raptors.
