1 – STRUS!!!
With the Cavs down one with 2.1 seconds remaining, G Max Strus hits the game-winning walk-off buzzing, beating a three-pointer from beyond half-court. Strus was significant from beyond the arc, making 7 for 10 for 21 points.
2 – From Deep
The Cavaliers in this game were wonderful from three, shooting 20 for 40 overall for a blazing 50%.
3 – Late Run
With the Cavs down 110-100 late in the 4th quarter, Cleveland went on a 15 to 3 run to take the lead on a Donovan Mitchell three-point jumper to take the lead. The run only took two minutes and five seconds.
Max Strus sunk a miraculous 60-foot shot at the buzzer, marking his fifth successful 3-pointer in the final four minutes, clinching a thrilling 121-119 victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
In the closing moments, after the Mavericks edged ahead with P.J. Washington’s dunk with a mere 2.9 seconds remaining, the Cavs swiftly inbounded the ball to Evan Mobley, who promptly passed it back to Strus. Remarkably, Strus had already nailed four 3-pointers within just 67 seconds to keep Cleveland in contention.
With a single dribble, Strus launched his shot from well beyond mid-court, officially measured at 59 feet. The crowd at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse erupted in jubilation as the ball swished through the net, and Strus was mobbed by his teammates on the floor.
Donovan Mitchell led the scoring with 31 points, complemented by Strus’ 21 and Jarrett Allen’s 19, propelling the Cavs to their 12th win out of 15 games since January 26.
On the Mavericks’ side, Luka Doncic delivered a stellar performance with 45 points and 14 assists, just a day before his 25th birthday. Kyrie Irving contributed 30 points for Dallas, who suffered only their second loss in 10 games.
Despite Doncic’s impressive display, the momentum shifted when Strus caught fire, sinking four critical 3-pointers in rapid succession to narrow the deficit to 113-112.
Doncic’s presence in Cleveland always draws a strong showing from the city’s Slovenian community. Prior to the game, he took time to interact with fans, signing autographs and posing for photos.
The Cavaliers initially surged to a 56-41 lead in the second quarter, hitting 7 of 9 3-point attempts. However, Doncic spearheaded a Mavericks comeback, scoring 14 points in the final minutes of the half to trim the gap to 60-56.
Irving, making his first return to Cleveland since being traded to Dallas from Brooklyn, received a warm reception from fans. He acknowledged the crowd’s appreciation with a heartfelt gesture, forming a heart shape with his hands.
Irving’s relationship with Cleveland fans is complex, with some expressing gratitude for his role in the Cavs’ 2016 championship, while others harbor bitterness over his trade request. Despite the mixed sentiments, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd praised Irving’s integration into the team, highlighting his peace of mind and stellar performance on the court.
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