Mavericks get absolutely rocked by Cavs in their first game since the Luka Dončić trade, as Evan Mobley led the charge with 22 points. The Cleveland Cavaliers shattered a franchise record by scoring 91 points in the first half, dominating the Dallas Mavericks with a final score of 144-101 on Sunday.
Darius Garland contributed significantly with 17 points and 10 assists, helping the Cavaliers elevate their impressive record to 40-9, the best in the league.
Sam Merrill was a standout from beyond the arc, sinking nine 3-pointers as Cleveland set another franchise milestone with 26 three-pointers in the game.
The Mavericks, aiming for a return to the NBA Finals, made headlines by trading their star player, Dončić, a five-time All-Star and the face of the franchise, to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis, one of the league’s premier two-way players.
Davis now joins All-Star guard Kyrie Irving in Dallas, who has a wealth of experience playing alongside superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden.
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However, Irving was sidelined due to injury, leaving the Mavericks vulnerable as the Cavaliers surged ahead. Cleveland scored a staggering 50 points in the first quarter alone, establishing a commanding 45-point lead by halftime.
Their total of 91 points in the first half ties for the third-most in NBA history.
Jaden Hardy led the Mavericks with 21 points but struggled to keep pace with Cleveland’s explosive offense.
Takeaways
Mavericks: With injuries sidelining key players like Irving (shoulder), P.J. Washington Jr. (knee), and centers Daniel Gafford (ankle), Dereck Lively II (ankle), and Dwight Powell (hip), Dallas only had 10 players available.
Cavaliers: This game served as a perfect opportunity to prepare for their upcoming matchup against the Boston Celtics on Tuesday.
Key moment
Garland’s three 3-pointers in just 66 seconds helped the Cavs jump to an early 27-9 lead, setting the tone for the rest of the game.
Key stat
Up Next
The Mavericks will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, while the Cavaliers prepare to host the defending champion Celtics, who previously halted Cleveland’s impressive 15-game winning streak to start the season.
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