All participants in the 2022 trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz won't be the sole individuals with ties to the Beehive State.
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Donovan Mitchell, Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton, and all participants in the 2022 trade between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz won’t be the sole individuals with ties to the Beehive State in the upcoming game between the teams.
Although not involved in that trade, sharpshooter Sam Merrill, fresh from his standout NBA performance, maintains strong ties to Utah. The backup guard for the Cavaliers hails from Bountiful, Utah, and played college basketball at Utah State.
Given his Utah roots and his career-best scoring performance in Monday’s overtime victory against the Houston Rockets, Merrill will be one of the focal points in Wednesday’s matchup against the Jazz in Cleveland.
In the 135-130 triumph over Houston, Merrill recorded 19 points on 6-of-11 shooting, showcasing his sharpshooting prowess with five successful 3-pointers. Notably, he contributed five crucial points during the overtime session.
For the Cavaliers, Garland (broken jawbone), Jerome (ankle injury), Mobley (knee injury), and Rubio (personal reasons) will not be playing the game. As for the Jazz, Clarkson (hamstring injury) and George (foot injury) will not be playing the game. Besides, Yurtseven is also questionable for the game due to illness.
Following his standout high school career at Bountiful High, located just 10 miles north of Salt Lake City, Merrill went on to receive multiple All-Mountain West Conference accolades. His impressive performance also earned him an honorable mention All-American title as he played a pivotal role in leading the Aggies to two Mountain West Conference championships.
Mitchell, who played the initial five seasons of his NBA career in Utah from 2017 to 2022, has consistently held Merrill in high regard ever since.
Recently, the Jazz have experienced an upswing thanks to Sexton, a pivotal figure in the significant 2022 trade. Over the last five games, he has maintained an impressive average of 25.6 points and 4.0 assists. In Utah’s 125-108 victory against the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, Sexton and Talen Horton-Tucker both contributed 27 points along with six assists and three rebounds each.
Despite not having the most efficient shooting performance at 6-for-17, Sexton showcased his impact by sinking 12 of 13 free throws and playing a crucial role in securing the victory. The Jazz, currently without starting guards Jordan Clarkson and Keyonte George, have managed to win three of their last four games, partially attributable to Sexton’s contributions.
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