Limping into a back-to-back with a trio of All-Stars missing from their starting lineup, the Cleveland Cavaliers had reason to worry — until Sam Merrill provided them with a different “three” to think about. Mere buckets away from closing out the Utah Jazz for a resilient home win, the sharpshooting two-guard rises to the occasion, putting his picture-perfect form to use with a dagger 3-pointer, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Seizing every bit of his increased opportunity, Merrill embedded his name into the Cavs’ history books, tying the record for the most 3-pointers off the bench with eight, on the way to a career-high 27 points, three rebounds, and a steal in the victory on December 20, 2023. · Dec 21, 2023