Cavs add new name to never-ending injury report

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The injuries continue to pile up for the Cavs in what has become a cursed season.

Sharpshooting reserve Sam Merrill is the latest addition to the injury report. Merrill did not participate in Tuesday’s practice at Cleveland Clinic Courts because of a neck injury suffered in the first half of Sunday afternoon’s road trip finale in Los Angeles. The injury could keep Merrill out on Wednesday night — the start of a regular-season capping homestand.

“He almost got like a whiplash type of thing,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “His neck is sore. They’re doing more exploratory stuff just to see what is going on and then we will have more information.”

During the first quarter of Cleveland’s 120-118 loss, Merrill attempted to take a charge in transition against Clippers swingman Paul George. Not only was Merrill called for a foul on the play, but his head and neck appeared to snap back upon impact while falling to the floor. Merrill stayed in the game for a few more minutes before checking out. He did not play in the second half.

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In six minutes against Los Angeles, Merrill went scoreless, missing his only shot attempt.

Versatile forward Dean Wade, who continues to nurse a sprained knee, didn’t participate in Tuesday’s practice either. Wade has been sidelined for a little more than three weeks and there is still no official word on when he will return. Sources maintain that Wade could miss the remainder of the regular season and his status for the first round of the playoffs is uncertain as well.

The fading Cavs, 46-33, have lost three straight and eight of the last 11. They recently dropped to the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, a half game back of both Orlando and New York.