Craig Porter Jr. cooked
The Cavaliers were riding high heading into Wednesday's game, winners of four-straight despite multiple backcourt injuries. The sheer volume of guards missing from the lineup made it possible for undrafted Craig Porter Jr. to get playing time, and he has taken full advantage.
Against the Miami Heat, Porter was pressed into the starting lineup and was one of the most active players on the court. He led the team with 16 points on a tidy 6-of-12 from the field, and he chipped in five assists, a steal and two blocks. He seemed unfazed by the Miami defense and played with energy on both ends of the court that many of his teammates didn't have.
Sam Merrill was scorching
Called upon for a handful of minutes during the competitive portion of the game, and then given extended playing time with the two-way players to close out the game, Merrill had a chance to prove himself worthy of more playing time.
His gravity was palpable as he raced around the court, and he shot 3-for-5 from deep. He can operate in this offense the same way that Max Strus can, sprinting off of screens and cutting at the right moment to spring free. He won't be in the rotation when everyone is healthy, but he is proving that he can be relied upon for some floor-spacing down the road.