Cleveland dealing with stomach bug ahead of potential series-clincher vs. Pistons

On Wednesday evening, the Cleveland Cavaliers made a miraculous comeback at the end of Game 5 to escape Detroit with a 117-113 overtime victory. But while the team is only a game away from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals, a new challenge has arisen in the Cleveland locker room.

Per a report by The Athletic, there appears to be a sickness that is going around the team. Kenny Atkinson has been dealing with upper respiratory issues, while Sam Merrill has a stomach bug.

“The Cavs are dealing with some illnesses. Atkinson said he had a little “bug.” Sam Merrill was violently ill on the off day between games 4 and 5, as a stomach bug (different from Atkinson’s upper respiratory bug) is also coursing through the team,” the piece read.

Despite Merrill’s illness, he played 21 minutes and knocked down 2 three-pointers while also getting a steal. And Atkinson, despite his sickness, was still patrolling the sidelines per usual, coaching the team to a well-needed victory that puts them in the driver’s seat of the series.

Also in The Athletic piece, Donovan Mitchell spoke about the gravity of the moment.

“Of course … you want to win, you want to get to the highest level, and it’s more of an incentive,” Mitchell said while acknowledging how close he is to his first conference finals trip. “It’s not a distraction, in a sense; it just makes you hungrier. I think, putting myself aside, I think this is great for the group. This is why we work so hard, why we made the trade for James and Dennis (Schröder) and Keon (Ellis). So yeah, it’s exciting to get that momentum and get one step closer. But we haven’t done anything yet, so I can’t go there.”

If the Cavaliers were to win this series against the Pistons, he’ll make his first Conference Finals appearance since he entered the league. Living up to the moment and weathering the storm of illness could make the journey all the more worthwhile.

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