Cavaliers notes: Sam Merrill has impact even when he isn't scoring

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers swingman Sam Merrill was listed as questionable for Game 3 with a hamstring injury. When he informed the coaches he was playing, coach Kenny Atkinson said even he was surprised. Merrill scored only seven points in Cleveland's victory Saturday, but drew two charges, made two 3-pointers and played his normal rugged defense. "He's in the (Jarrett Allen) category," Atkinson said. "We usually win the game when he plays. (Merrill) is a big piece in what we do. It doesn't always show up (on the stat sheet). "He's a competitor. Not having him in Game 2 hurt us. He fought through his injury and helped us." Merrill was back in the rotation Monday night for Game 4. He scored six points and had two assists. Don surging Atkinson is not surprised that All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell had 35 points in Game 3. "It was only a matter of time before he got going," he said. "Eventually Don was going to catch fire." Atkinson likened it to a .350 hitter coming into a series batting .180. The law of averages catches up sooner or later. The trend continued Monday as Mitchell scored 43, including 39 in the second half. Pistons swingman Ausar Thompson, a superb defender, has switched on and off between Mitchell and point guard James Harden. "We know how valuable he is," Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. In the Toronto series, the Raptors "sold out" on controlling Mitchell and Harden. "Detroit is playing more conventional (defense)," Atkinson said. Bickerstaff said when Mitchell and Harden are on the floor at the same time, the Cavs use one of them as a decoy. "It opens up the floor," he said. Staying alive Atkinson refers to the playoffs as "survival of the fittest." "We're playing every other day," he said. "You have to take care of the physical and mental aspects of the game. Your habits have to be impeccable." Bull's eye on Cade Cleveland's defense is solely focused on slowing down All-Star Cade Cunningham. "He's the focus," Atkinson said. "He plays 40 minutes. You're not stopping him. You just try to slow him down and get his percentages down. That's the goal." Dean Wade, Jaylon Tyson and Max Strus have taken turns guarding the 6-foot-6, 225-pound Cunningham, who could be a first-team All-NBA player this year. The Cavs want to slow down Cunningham and win the battles when he's off the court. Forward Tobias Harris had scored 20 or more points in eight consecutive playoff games, including the first three against Cleveland. He was held to 16 in Game 4. "He sees the need and tries to fill that need," Bickerstaff said. "He wants to help the team." Crafty veteran The Pistons are trying not to foul Harden on the 3-point shots. "He's elite at what he does when he kicks his feet out," Bickerstaff said. "He's able to create fouls. You have to have discipline (while guarding him)." Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.