Overview
- Cleveland followed Merrill’s return by scoring 139 and 141 points on consecutive nights, including a 141–118 win over the Pelicans.
- Merrill started against New Orleans after assistant Mike Gerrity urged the move, and he posted 22 points on 6-for-10 from three with seven assists and six rebounds.
- Donovan Mitchell said the impact is “as simple as pointing in his direction,” echoing Atkinson’s repeated description of Merrill as a “connector.”
- Coaches and local analysts highlighted how Merrill’s gravity opens driving lanes, with Cleveland piling up 72 points in the paint and 76 assists on 104 field goals across the two games.
- Coverage notes a strong record split when Merrill plays (reported 11–3 versus 6–11 without him), with observers cautioning about sample size as a Christmas Day test at the Knicks approaches.