Game ID: 22300832
Dallas Mavericks @ Cleveland Cavaliers
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland, OH
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
CLE 23 37 23 38 121DAL 24 32 26 37 119
CLE vs DAL ScoutingCLE vs DAL Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
CLE availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 2/10, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 11 since 1/24, out tonight
CLE availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Wade missed 2 since 2/12, returns tonight: 13 min (62% of 20)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 2/10, returns tonight: 4 min (30% of 13)
OUT Thompson missed 12 since 1/24, out tonight
CLE availability going into 2/23 · back-to-backOUT Thompson missed 13 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Wade back 2/22 after 2, 13 min since (62% of 20)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/22 after 3, 4 min since (30% of 13)
CLE availability going into 2/25 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 2/22, returns tonight: 36 min (101% of 36)
OUT Thompson missed 14 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Wade back 2/22 after 2, 12 min since (58% of 20)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/22 after 3, 5 min since (37% of 13)
CLE availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 15 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 2/25 after 2, 36 min since (101% of 36)
BACK Wade back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (51% of 20)
BACK Porter Jr. back 2/22 after 3, 5 min since (37% of 13)
CLE availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Porter Jr. missed 2 since 2/25, out tonight
OUT Thompson missed 16 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 2/25 after 2, 37 min since (104% of 36)
BACK Wade back 2/22 after 2, 10 min since (50% of 20)
CLE availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Merrill missed 2 since 2/27, returns tonight: 25 min (151% of 17)
OUT Porter Jr. missed 3 since 2/25, returns tonight: 11 min (90% of 13)
OUT Thompson missed 17 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 2/25 after 2, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Wade back 2/22 after 2, 11 min since (53% of 20)
CLE availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restOUT Thompson missed 18 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Mitchell back 2/25 after 2, 40 min since (111% of 36)
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 25 min since (151% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 11 min since (90% of 13)
CLE availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restOUT Mitchell missed 2 since 3/01, out tonight
OUT LeVert missed 2 since 3/01, returns tonight: 30 min (105% of 28)
OUT Thompson missed 19 since 1/24, out tonight
BACK Merrill back 3/01 after 2, 27 min since (161% of 17)
BACK Porter Jr. back 3/01 after 3, 10 min since (78% of 13)
DAL availability going into 2/12 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 6 since 1/31, out tonight
OUT Exum missed 8 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Irving back 2/05 after 6, 36 min since (99% of 36)
BACK Jones Jr. back 2/03 after 3, 25 min since (101% of 25)
NEW Green 24 to 32 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 20 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/14 · 1 day's restOUT Lively II missed 7 since 1/31, returns tonight: 17 min (74% of 23)
OUT Exum missed 9 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Irving back 2/05 after 6, 37 min since (103% of 36)
NEW Green 24 to 31 min over the last 5
NEW Kleber 20 to 27 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 2/22 · 7 days' restOUT Exum missed 10 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 2/14 after 7, 17 min since (74% of 23)
NEW Kleber 20 to 27 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 2/25 · 2 days' restOUT Exum missed 11 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 2/14 after 7, 16 min since (71% of 23)
NEW Kleber 20 to 26 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 2/27 · 1 day's restOUT Exum missed 12 since 1/27, out tonight
BACK Lively II back 2/14 after 7, 16 min since (69% of 23)
NEW Kleber 20 to 25 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 2/28 · back-to-backOUT Exum missed 13 since 1/27, returns tonight: 17 min (103% of 16)
BACK Lively II back 2/14 after 7, 17 min since (75% of 23)
NEW Kleber 20 to 25 min over the last 4
DAL availability going into 3/01 · 1 day's restOUT Powell missed 2 since 2/27, returns tonight: 4 min (33% of 12)
BACK Lively II back 2/14 after 7, 19 min since (81% of 23)
BACK Exum back 2/28 after 13, 17 min since (103% of 16)
NEW Kleber 20 to 26 min over the last 3
DAL availability going into 3/03 · 1 day's restBACK Exum back 2/28 after 13, 16 min since (97% of 16)
BACK Powell back 3/01 after 2, 4 min since (33% of 12)
NEW Green 24 to 29 min over the last 5
DAL availability going into 3/05 · 1 day's restBACK Exum back 2/28 after 13, 13 min since (82% of 16)
BACK Powell back 3/01 after 2, 4 min since (33% of 12)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 111, shooting 49 percent and 34 from three, 26 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and Allen at 20 a game. One day's rest. Dallas comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 111, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 22 free throws a game; Dončić at 32 and Irving at 29 a game. Without Exum (12 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Dallas has been plus-4 a night and Cleveland minus-2. Call it Cleveland 115, Dallas 114, Dallas keeping it close.
2/14 vs CHI 108-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 108-105. CLE shot 48% (40 of 83) to CHI's 46%, 12 of 37 from three. CLE turned it over 8 times to CHI's 14. Mitchell led with 30 (8 of 21, 2 of 8 from three, 12 of 13 at the line); Okoro added 16, Mobley 14. The hinge was Q4, 37-29: CLE came in trailing by 5 and left it ahead by 3. CLE trailed 43-49 at the half and won the second half 65-56. Allen was the night's best plus/minus at +9.
2/22 vs ORL 109-116 — CLE notes
CLE lost 109-116. CLE shot 56% (39 of 70) to ORL's 51%, 10 of 22 from three, and went to the line 26 times to ORL's 18 — 21 points from the stripe to their 16. Garland led with 18 (6 of 12, 3 of 5 from three); Allen added 18, Strus 18. Q2 was theirs, 26-25, the deficit cut from 5 to 4, but the other 3 periods went 91-83 against them. Niang's -20 in 16 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/23 @ PHI 97-104 — CLE notes
CLE lost 97-104. CLE shot 42% (34 of 80) to PHI's 44%, 8 of 27 from three, and went to the line 31 times to PHI's 15 — 21 points from the stripe to their 12. Allen led with 24 (10 of 16, 4 of 8 at the line); Garland added 20, Strus 14. Q1 was theirs, 25-25, but the other 3 periods went 79-72 against them. Mobley's -11 in 27 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/25 @ WAS 114-105 — CLE notes
CLE won 114-105. CLE shot 51% (42 of 83) to WAS's 44%, 10 of 32 from three, and went to the line 27 times to WAS's 18 — 20 points from the stripe to their 13. Allen led with 22 (11 of 18); Mobley added 21, LeVert 18. The hinge was Q3, 32-26: a lead of 1 became 7. Garland was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
2/27 vs DAL 121-119 — CLE notes
CLE won 121-119. CLE shot 53% (44 of 83) to DAL's 53%, 20 of 40 from three. CLE turned it over 16 times to DAL's 5, and DAL turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 47-36 for them. Mitchell led with 31 (11 of 20, 7 of 11 from three); Strus added 21, Allen 19. The hinge was Q2, 37-32: CLE came in trailing by 1 and left it ahead by 4, and the lead reached 15. Niang was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
2/28 @ CHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Chicago comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 33 from three, 20 free throws a game; DeRozan at 24 and Vučević at 20 a game. Without Craig (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 110 a night and allowing 110, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 26 and Allen at 19 a game. Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Chicago wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 38 percent from three to Chicago's 33. Call it Chicago 113, Cleveland 112, Cleveland keeping it close.
3/01 @ DET — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Detroit comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 108 a night and allowing 113, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 20 free throws a game; Cunningham at 25 and Fontecchio at 16 a game. Without Sasser (3 straight), Brown Jr. (2 straight), Milton (3 straight). 2 days' rest. Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 115, shooting 49 percent and 40 from three, 24 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Allen at 19 a game. It has lost the glass by 5 a night. Without Merrill (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, on the road, and the game turns on the turnovers, Detroit giving it away 16 times a game to Cleveland's 13. Call it Cleveland 114, Detroit 113, Detroit keeping it close.
3/03 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 112, shooting 46 percent and 40 from three, 25 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Garland at 19 a game. One day's rest. New York comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 110, shooting 42 percent and 35 from three, 22 free throws a game; Brunson at 29 and DiVincenzo at 18 a game. Without Randle (14 straight), Anunoby (14 straight), Robinson (39 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the arc, Cleveland at 40 percent from three to New York's 35 and the glass, where New York has been plus-2 a night and Cleveland minus-3. Call it Cleveland 113, New York 108.
3/05 vs BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 41 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 22 and Garland at 19 a game. Without Mitchell (2 straight), LeVert (2 straight). One day's rest. Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 128 a night and allowing 102, shooting 55 percent and 45 from three, 19 free throws a game; Brown at 27 and Tatum at 26 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 5 a night. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Boston has been plus-5 a night and Cleveland minus-3 and the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to Cleveland's 113. Call it Boston 117, Cleveland 111.
2/12 vs WAS 112-104 — DAL notes
DAL won 112-104. DAL shot 45% (43 of 96) to WAS's 42%, 9 of 36 from three, and went to the line 26 times to WAS's 15 — 17 points from the stripe to their 9. Irving led with 26 (10 of 19, 2 of 7 from three, 4 of 6 at the line); Dončić added 26, Gafford 16. The hinge was Q4, 34-16: DAL came in trailing by 10 and left it ahead by 8. DAL trailed 51-58 at the half and won the second half 61-46. Dončić was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
2/14 vs SAS 116-93 — DAL notes
DAL won 116-93. DAL shot 53% (49 of 92) to SAS's 36%, 11 of 30 from three. The glass went 55-44 for them. Irving led with 34 (15 of 22, 4 of 9 from three); Dončić added 27, Hardy 13. The hinge was Q3, 32-14: a lead of 5 became 23, and the lead reached 29. Lively II was the night's best plus/minus at +27.
2/22 vs PHX 123-113 — DAL notes
DAL won 123-113. DAL shot 48% (43 of 90) to PHX's 48%, 19 of 44 from three. DAL turned it over 10 times to PHX's 16. Dončić led with 41 (14 of 27, 6 of 11 from three, 7 of 7 at the line); Irving added 29, Washington 12. The hinge was Q3, 36-28: DAL came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 5, and the lead reached 15. DAL trailed 60-63 at the half and won the second half 63-50. Irving was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
2/25 @ IND 111-133 — DAL notes
DAL lost 111-133. DAL shot 47% (41 of 87) to IND's 56%, 14 of 31 from three. Dončić led with 33 (10 of 21, 4 of 8 from three, 9 of 12 at the line); Irving added 29, Green 14. Q1 was theirs, 32-32, but the other 3 periods went 101-79 against them. Gafford's -23 in 19 minutes was the worst on the floor.
2/27 @ CLE 119-121 — DAL notes
DAL lost 119-121. DAL took 8 more shots (91 to 83), but shot 53% to CLE's 53%, 14 of 33 from three. DAL turned it over 5 times to CLE's 16. The glass went 36-47 against them. Dončić led with 45 (17 of 29, 6 of 11 from three); Irving added 30, Washington 11. Q3 was theirs, 26-23, the deficit cut from 4 to 1, but the other 3 periods went 98-93 against them. They led by as many as 10.
2/28 @ TOR — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Toronto comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 19 free throws a game; Barnes at 19 and Barrett at 18 a game. That is 3 straight wins. Without Freeman-Liberty (13 straight). One day's rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 113, shooting 49 percent and 39 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 34 and Irving at 30 a game. Without Exum (13 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Toronto wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Toronto has been plus-4 a night and Dallas minus-1. Call it Toronto 118, Dallas 115, Dallas keeping it close.
3/01 @ BOS — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Boston comes in 5-0 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 102, shooting 55 percent and 43 from three, 21 free throws a game; Tatum at 27 and Brown at 25 a game. That is 5 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. 2 days' rest. Dallas comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 117, shooting 51 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Dončić at 35 and Irving at 30 a game. One day's rest.
So: Boston wins, and the game turns on the defense, Boston allowing 102 a night to Dallas's 117 and the glass, where Boston has been plus-8 a night and Dallas minus-1. Call it Boston 121, Dallas 112.
3/03 vs PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 126, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 19 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Irving at 27 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Philadelphia comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 111, shooting 43 percent and 37 from three, 13 free throws a game; Maxey at 30 and Harris at 15 a game. Without Embiid (13 straight), Covington (27 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the defense, Philadelphia allowing 111 a night to Dallas's 126 and the line, where Dallas takes 19 free throws a game to Philadelphia's 13. Call it Dallas 117, Philadelphia 115, Philadelphia keeping it close.
3/05 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Dallas comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 127, shooting 50 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Dončić at 37 and Irving at 27 a game. One day's rest. Indiana comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 120, shooting 47 percent and 32 from three, 18 free throws a game; Siakam at 19 and Turner at 18 a game. Without Sheppard (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: Dallas wins, and the game turns on the arc, Dallas at 37 percent from three to Indiana's 32 and the glass, where Indiana has been plus-2 a night and Dallas minus-3. Call it Dallas 121, Indiana 120, Indiana keeping it close.
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlGaMiMoSt 5 10 -2 2 7 29 2 5 40 0 0 0 3 5 3 0 0 1 2
CLE Allen, Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Allen, Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGrIrIiWa 5 12 +2 4 8 50 0 2 0 1 1 100 1 5 3 1 1 0 1
DAL Dončić, Green, Irving, Lively II, Washington
in Dončić, Green, Irving, Lively II, Washington
out ---
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlLeMiStWa 3 4 -2 2 3 67 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 1 0
CLE Allen, LeVert, Mitchell, Strus, Wade
in LeVert, Wade
out Garland, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoJrIrIiWa 3 6 +2 3 5 60 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 3 2 1 1 0 0
DAL Dončić, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Lively II, Washington
in Hardaway Jr.
out Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GaLeMoNiOk 8 24 +13 4 5 80 4 7 57 4 7 57 0 8 8 2 0 2 2
CLE Garland, LeVert, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
in Garland, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
out Allen, Mitchell, Strus, Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGaJrJrKl 3 4 -5 1 3 33 0 1 0 2 2 100 0 4 1 0 0 2 1
DAL Dončić, Gafford, Hardaway Jr., Jones Jr., Kleber
in Gafford, Jones Jr., Kleber
out Irving, Lively II, Washington
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GaLeMoNiOk 8 24 +13 4 5 80 4 7 57 4 7 57 0 8 8 2 0 2 2
CLE Garland, LeVert, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
in Garland, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
out Allen, Mitchell, Strus, Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GrHaIrKlIi 5 7 -8 2 4 50 1 3 33 0 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 2
DAL Green, Hardy, Irving, Kleber, Lively II
in Green, Hardy, Irving, Lively II
out Dončić, Gafford, Hardaway Jr., Jones Jr.
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlLeMiNiOk 2 11 +7 0 0 0 3 3 100 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
CLE Allen, LeVert, Mitchell, Niang, Okoro
in Allen, Mitchell
out Garland, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGaGrIrWa 3 8 -4 2 4 50 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 0 2 1 0 0 2
DAL Dončić, Gafford, Green, Irving, Washington
in Dončić, Gafford, Washington
out Hardy, Kleber, Lively II
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlMiNiOkSt 2 7 +1 0 0 0 1 2 50 3 4 75 0 3 1 0 1 1 1
CLE Allen, Mitchell, Niang, Okoro, Strus
in Strus
out LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGaGrIrWa 3 8 -4 2 4 50 1 2 50 1 1 100 0 0 2 1 0 0 2
DAL Dončić, Gafford, Green, Irving, Washington
in Dončić, Gafford, Washington
out Hardy, Kleber, Lively II
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlGaMiMoSt 8 11 -13 3 7 43 2 7 29 2 2 100 2 5 4 0 0 3 3
CLE Allen, Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Garland, Mobley
out Niang, Okoro
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGrJrKlWa 2 11 +7 0 0 0 3 3 100 3 4 75 0 2 0 1 0 0 1
DAL Dončić, Green, Hardaway Jr., Kleber, Washington
in Hardaway Jr.
out Irving
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlGaMiMoSt 8 11 -13 3 7 43 2 7 29 2 2 100 2 5 4 0 0 3 3
CLE Allen, Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Strus
in Garland, Mobley
out Niang, Okoro
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGrIrIiWa 4 9 +2 4 8 50 0 2 0 1 2 50 1 5 1 1 1 0 0
DAL Dončić, Green, Irving, Lively II, Washington
in Irving, Lively II
out Hardaway Jr., Kleber
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlLeMiStWa 2 5 -3 2 3 67 0 1 0 1 1 100 1 2 1 0 0 1 0
CLE Allen, LeVert, Mitchell, Strus, Wade
in LeVert, Wade
out Garland, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoJrIrKlWa 3 10 +3 2 3 67 2 3 67 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 2
DAL Dončić, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Kleber, Washington
in Hardaway Jr., Kleber
out Green, Lively II
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlLeMiOkWa 3 7 -2 2 4 50 1 2 50 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 2 2 0
CLE Allen, LeVert, Mitchell, Okoro, Wade
in Okoro
out Strus
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoJrJrKlWa 3 7 +2 3 5 60 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 0 0 0
DAL Dončić, Hardaway Jr., Jones Jr., Kleber, Washington
in Jones Jr.
out Irving
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GaLeMoNiOk 2 4 +4 2 3 67 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 0 1
CLE Garland, LeVert, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
in Garland, Mobley, Niang
out Allen, Mitchell, Wade
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GrJrIrJrKl 2 0 -4 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 50 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
DAL Green, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Jones Jr., Kleber
in Green, Irving
out Dončić, Washington
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GaMiMoNiOk 5 14 0 6 6 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 2 2
CLE Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
in Mitchell
out LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGrJrIrIi 3 6 -2 3 4 75 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
DAL Dončić, Green, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Lively II
in Dončić, Lively II
out Jones Jr., Kleber
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
GaMiMoNiOk 5 14 0 6 6 100 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 2 2
CLE Garland, Mitchell, Mobley, Niang, Okoro
in Mitchell
out LeVert
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoJrIrIiWa 2 8 +2 1 1 100 2 2 100 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
DAL Dončić, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Lively II, Washington
in Washington
out Green
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlLeMiNiOk 2 0 -5 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 1
CLE Allen, LeVert, Mitchell, Niang, Okoro
in Allen, LeVert
out Garland, Mobley
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoJrIrKlWa 5 17 +2 4 5 80 3 6 50 0 1 0 2 3 4 1 1 1 2
DAL Dončić, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Kleber, Washington
in Kleber
out Lively II
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlGaLeMiSt 5 20 +10 1 4 25 5 5 100 0 0 0 1 3 5 0 0 2 1
CLE Allen, Garland, LeVert, Mitchell, Strus
in Garland, Strus
out Niang, Okoro
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoJrIrKlWa 5 17 +2 4 5 80 3 6 50 0 1 0 2 3 4 1 1 1 2
DAL Dončić, Hardaway Jr., Irving, Kleber, Washington
in Kleber
out Lively II
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
AlGaLeMiSt 5 20 +10 1 4 25 5 5 100 0 0 0 1 3 5 0 0 2 1
CLE Allen, Garland, LeVert, Mitchell, Strus
in Garland, Strus
out Niang, Okoro
Lineup MIN PTS PM 2PM 2PA 2P% 3PM 3PA 3P% FTM FTA FT% OR DR AST STL BLK TO PF
DoGrIrKlWa 2 2 -4 1 1 100 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
DAL Dončić, Green, Irving, Kleber, Washington
in Green
out Hardaway Jr.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
CLECL C. LeVert
DG D. Garland
DM D. Mitchell
DW D. Wade
EM E. Mobley
GN G. Niang
IO I. Okoro
JA J. Allen
MS M. Strus
DALDG D. Gafford
DJ D. Jones Jr.
DL D. Lively II
DO Doncic
JG J. Green
JH J. Hardy
KI K. Irving
LD L. Dončić
MK M. Kleber
PW P. Washington
TH T. Hardaway Jr.
CLE/DAL the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Maxed out: Strus sinks 59-footer at the final horn, sending Cavaliers to 121-119 win over Mavericks
CLEVELAND -- — Max Strus caught the pass, and with barely any time to think never mind shoot, one thing crossed his mind.
“Get it up,” he said.
Down it went.
Strus drilled a 59-footer as time expired , his fifth 3-pointer in the final four minutes, to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a wild 121-119 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.
After the Mavericks took the lead on P.J. Washington 's dunk with 2.9 seconds left, the Cavs, out of timeouts, inbounded the ball to Evan Mobley , who passed it back to Strus — whose barrage of four 3s in a span of 67 seconds down the stretch brought Cleveland back from a 10-point deficit.
Strus then took a dribble before launching his shot from well beyond mid-court. As it swished through the net, Strus was tackled to the floor by his celebrating teammates as the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse crowd erupted.
Strus said he knew it was good from the moment it left his hand.
“The last five felt pretty good,” he said. “I felt a rhythm and it’s fun when you do that. Every time I shot it, I felt like it was going in, and it was. Same with the last one.”
Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points, Strus added 21 and Jarrett Allen 19 for the Cavs, who improved to 12-3 since Jan 26 following a win many of them will long remember.
“Man, just to see it go through, especially what he did for us in the fourth, it had to be him, too,” Mitchell said. “You dream of a shot like that. So for him to get that after what he did for us, the whole fourth quarter, man."
Strus said the play wasn't designed but just unfolded.
“Don (Mitchell) wasn’t in the game so somebody else had to do it,” he joked.
According to Basketball Reference, Strus' sensational shot is the second-longest game-winner in the 3-point era (1979-80). Devonte Graham made a 61-footer for New Orleans to beat Oklahoma City on Dec. 15, 2021.
Truth be told, Strus wasn't all that impressed by his heave. He made an even longer game-winning shot in college.
"Yeah, at my Division II school I made a three-quarter court shot to win the game,” he said.
Luka Doncic had 45 points and 14 assists a day before turning 25 for the Mavericks. Kyrie Irving added 30 for Dallas, which lost for just the second time in 10 games.
“Incredible shot. That was just an incredible shot,” Doncic said. "It was my fault, I should have pressed forward (on Strus). I thought we played a good game, but that was rough, obviously.”
Doncic added nine rebounds, finishing one shy of his 11th triple-double.
With Doncic making a 3-pointer, Dallas reeled off 10 straight points to take a 108-98 lead with 4:38 left.
The Mavericks were still up by double digits when Strus got hot, making four 3-pointers in just over a minute to pull the Cavs within 113-112.
“That two-minute span was intense for us," said Irving, who made the biggest shot in Cleveland history in Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. "This is the first time I’ve lost on a half-court shot. You don’t flush it out of your system, you feel it. This one has got to sting a little bit.”
The Cavs have been thrilled with what they've gotten from Strus, who signed with them in the offseason after a nice run with Miami. He gives Cleveland toughness, outside shooting and another leader — on and off the court.
“What he did tonight was absolutely ridiculous to come back in that fourth quarter for us to be down the way we were,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. "But that’s who Max is. And it’s as simple sometimes as chasing down a loose ball or making an extra rotation. Max never quits and we were down and he had the same mentality.
“He wasn’t going to quit and he just kept making play after play after play on both ends.”
Doncic's appearance in Cleveland always brings out dozens of fans from the city's Slovenian community. Following his early pregame warmup, Doncic went into the stands to sign autographs and pose for photos.
After a sluggish start offensively, the Cavaliers made 7 of 9 3-pointers to begin the second quarter while opening a 56-41 lead.
But following a Dallas timeout, Doncic took over. The All-Star made three 3s in a span of 1:26, dropped two free throws and then hit another step-back 3 to score 14 points in the final 2:57 to pull the Mavs within 60-56 at halftime.
This was Irving's first visit since being traded to Dallas from Brooklyn, and he got a warmer-than-expected ovation in player introductions and again when the Cavs played a video tribute for him during a first-quarter timeout.
Irving waved to the crowd and formed the shape of heart with his hands to show thanks.
The mercurial guard has a complicated relationship with Cleveland fans. Some remain faithful and will never forget his contributions to the Cavs' title run in 2016 while others feel bitterness toward Irving after he demanded to be traded — his departure effectively ending any chance for more championships.
This return seemed to bring healing for Irving, who said he'll always be grateful to the city where he got his start.
'“Cleveland loved me through my mistakes and I love them for it,” he said.