Cavaliers Spoil Luka Doncic’s Performance, Secure Last-Second Victory Over Mavericks

Luka Doncic showcased his skills at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse but couldn’t prevent the Dallas Mavericks from succumbing to a defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers. The game was decided at the buzzer, with Max Strus sinking a shot from just before the halfway point on the court. Despite being one of the leading MVP candidates of the season, Doncic scored 45 points, dished out 14 assists, grabbed nine rebounds, and made three steals. Moreover, the Slovenian player shot an impressive 58.6% from the field and 54.5% from beyond the arc. However, his efforts were insufficient to withstand the strong team play of the Cavaliers.

The home team also had a standout performer in Donovan Mitchell, who led Ohio’s squad with 31 points. Additionally, the shooting guard secured seven rebounds and provided six assists in the matchup against the Mavericks. The game was highly competitive, featuring 24 lead changes. By the end of the third quarter, the Cavaliers held a slim one-point lead. In the first half of the final quarter, both teams traded points. With just over four minutes remaining, the Mavericks gained a ten-point advantage and seemed to have control of the game.




However, the Cavaliers turned to Strus to be the unlikely hero. The forward sank four consecutive three-pointers, narrowing the Texan team’s lead to just one point. The teams continued to exchange points, and PJ Washington put the Mavs ahead with three seconds left. When it appeared the game was over, Strus made the game-winning shot for the Ohio team.