Cavs Catch Fire With Merrill Back, Flagg Shines for Mavs, and Wemby’s Block Streak Ends in Spurs Win
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t quite looked like the Eastern Conference powerhouse they were a season ago-but over the past two nights, they’ve offered a glimpse of what this team can be when the pieces start falling back into place.
Injuries have been a constant storyline in Cleveland. Evan Mobley and Darius Garland have both missed significant time, Max Strus still hasn’t made his season debut, and the bench has been stretched thin. But the return of Sam Merrill is already making a noticeable impact-and not just in the box score.
Merrill re-entered the lineup Monday against Charlotte, and the Cavaliers’ offense immediately shifted into high gear. They exploded for 139 points against the Hornets and followed it up with 141 more in a win over the Pelicans the very next night-marking their second- and third-highest scoring games of the season.
Against Charlotte, Cleveland was lights out from deep, drilling 55% of its threes. Donovan Mitchell dropped 30, and the floor spacing was as clean as it’s looked all year.
On Tuesday, the Cavs kept the momentum going. They hit 41% from beyond the arc, with Mitchell leading the way again with 27 points.
Merrill, though, was the sparkplug-knocking down 6-of-10 from three, finishing with 22 points, seven assists, and six rebounds.
So, can one player really open things up that much?
“Yeah,” Mitchell said without hesitation. “I think it’s really as simple as pointing in his direction.”
Mitchell emphasized how Merrill’s presence in the corner forces defenders to stay honest, which in turn opens driving lanes when he draws extra attention. It’s a subtle shift, but it’s one that’s making a big difference.
For a team that’s been hovering near the bottom third of the league in three-point shooting percentage, getting Merrill back healthy could be a game-changer. With Garland and Mobley still working their way back, and Strus yet to debut, the Cavs may finally be trending in the right direction.
DALLAS MAVERICKS
If there was any doubt that Cooper Flagg belonged on the big stage, Tuesday night should put that to rest.
The rookie delivered one of his most impressive performances yet, leading the Mavericks to a 131-130 win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in a game that demanded both skill and composure. Flagg finished with 33 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists in 40 minutes-numbers that are eye-popping on their own, but even more impressive when you consider the moment.
Nikola Jokic certainly took notice.
“He was definitely a hot hand out there,” Jokic said postgame. “But the poise that he played with, he doesn’t feel like he’s so young. He looked really mature out there.”
Denver coach David Adelman echoed that sentiment, pointing to Flagg’s ability to deliver under pressure.
“It was the tough shots,” Adelman said. “Some of the threes late in the clock.
He got to his spots. Bruce Brown really fought him in the second half and he still made big shots.
He’s very impressive.”
Flagg’s December surge has been nothing short of electric. After a quiet start to the season, he’s now averaging 24.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.5 assists this month. Dallas, which opened the year 6-15, has gone 6-4 in December-and Flagg is at the heart of that turnaround.
There’s still a long way to go, but if the Rookie of the Year race ended today, Flagg would be the clear frontrunner. The Mavericks are finding their rhythm, and their rookie is leading the charge.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
The Spurs rolled to their seventh straight win Tuesday, taking down the Thunder 130-110 in a game that had everything-except, surprisingly, a Victor Wembanyama block.
Yes, you read that right.
For the first time in nearly a year, Wembanyama didn’t record a single block, ending a streak of 101 consecutive games with at least one. That run was the longest in Spurs franchise history and the third-longest in NBA history, trailing only Patrick Ewing and Dikembe Mutombo.
Wembanyama played just 23 minutes as he continues to work through a minutes restriction following a left calf strain. He finished with 12 points, five rebounds, and three assists-solid numbers, but the absence of a block stood out for a player who’s made rim protection his calling card.
Still, San Antonio is rolling. Now 22-7, the Spurs are playing with confidence and cohesion, and they’ll get another shot at Oklahoma City on Christmas Day in a rematch that’s sure to carry a little extra juice.
Wemby may not have swatted a shot this time, but with the Spurs riding a seven-game win streak and the big man easing back into form, there’s no reason to sound the alarm. The streak may be over, but the impact? Still very much alive.