Okoro and Merrill could be returning for showdown with Thunder

The Cavaliers could be getting back some much needed perimeter defense and three-point shooting.

The Cleveland Cavaliers will need all the wings and shooting they can get in their matchup with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fortunately for Cleveland, they could be getting just that as Isaac Okoro (shoulder) and Sam Merrill (ankle) are questionable ahead of Wednesday’s game after practicing on Tuesday.

“[Okoro] and Sam had a great practice today,” said head coach Kenny Atkinson on Tuesday. “Full contact, full on. Let’s see what the returns are on both of them because they’re both evaluation injuries. You got to check them tomorrow at shootaround and see how they respond to today’s [practice]. Today we went live. They were in every live drill. They didn’t sit out or anything.

Okoro first went down with a shoulder injury against the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 19. The original timetable for being re-evaluated was two weeks.

The Cavs could greatly use Okoro’s perimeter defense and his three-point shooting against the Thunder. He’s putting up career-best percentages from the floor (49.5%) and from three (49.2%) this season. Okoro is averaging 6.6 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.7 rebounds per game. Cleveland is 14-2 in games he starts.

Merrill has been battling injuries on and off this season. He left last week’s win over the Los Angeles Lakers early with a right ankle sprain and missed the following two games. Merrill is averaging seven points on .387/.351/.944 shooting splits this season.

The Thunder will be without Alex Caruso (hip) and Chet Holmgren (iliac fracture) for Tuesday’s game.