TITLE: Injury Roundup: Garland, Merrill Out; Heat, Wizards, Celtics Update Status Reports
SLUG: nba-injury-roundup-garland-merrill-heat-coulibaly-pritchard
CONTENT:
The Cleveland Cavaliers will play without starting point guard Darius Garland on Friday in Philadelphia after he developed soreness in his right great toe, according to Cleveland.com. The discomfort is unrelated to the offseason surgery that addressed a different toe on his opposite foot.
Sam Merrill will also sit out Friday’s matchup with a right-hand sprain, the same issue that sidelined the sharpshooter for 14 games earlier in the season. Both Garland and Merrill were hurt during Wednesday’s road win over the 76ers.
Heat Rule Out Mitchell, Jaquez Jr.
The Miami Heat announced that starting guard Davion Mitchell (left shoulder contusion) and sixth man Jaime Jaquez Jr. (left knee sprain) will miss Saturday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, marking the second straight absence for each player. An MRI on Thursday showed irritation in Jaquez’s knee, while Mitchell had not undergone imaging as of Thursday. Guard Tyler Herro is listed as questionable with contusions on his toe and rib.
Wizards Forward Coulibaly Stays Home for Treatment
Bilal Coulibaly left Wednesday’s loss to the Clippers with a back injury and will miss the final two contests of Washington’s West Coast trip. The team labeled the issue lower-back stiffness, and head coach Brian Keefe said the former lottery pick has returned to Washington, D.C., for treatment.
Celtics List Pritchard as Doubtful
Payton Pritchard is doubtful for Saturday’s game in Atlanta due to left ankle soreness. The reigning Sixth Man of the Year has appeared in each of Boston’s 40 games this season. Forward Josh Minott will miss his seventh consecutive game with a left ankle sprain.
Source: Hoops Rumors
