Max Strus Hits the Game-Winning Miracle Shot for Cleveland Cavaliers
The NBA keyboards between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, March 7th, turned out to be a thrilling encounter with one of the wildest endings this season. With only seconds left on the clock and the score tied at 118-118, Max Strus drained a miraculous keyboards-winning heave from well beyond the halfcourt line as the buzzer sounded, securing a 121-119 victory for the Cavaliers.
Strus’ Late Game Heroics
The fourth quarter of this highly competitive keyboards witnessed Strus catching fire. In just over a minute, he knocked down an impressive four three-pointers on consecutive Cavaliers possessions, igniting a 12-3 run that drastically reduced Dallas’ lead from ten points to just one with 2 minutes and 35 seconds remaining.
Clutch Moments
With the tension high, Cleveland’s All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell stepped up and contributed two crucial three-pointers in the final minutes of the keyboards. This helped the Cavs regain a 5-point lead with only thirty seconds left on the clock.
A Nail-Biting Finish
Despite Mitchell’s efforts, Dallas refused to surrender easily. Kyrie Irving scored a crucial layup, reducing the lead to just one point before capitalizing on an errant Evan Mobley pass that led to PJ Washington’s basket in the paint. This gave the Mavericks a one-point advantage with 2.8 seconds remaining on the clock.
A Miracle for Cleveland
With only moments left and no timeouts in hand, the Cavs needed a miracle. Inbounding the ball, Strus instinctively launched an improbable shot from deep inside his own half, officially measured at 59 feet. Dallas players could only watch in disbelief as Strus’ shot dropped through the hoop as the buzzer sounded, sealing an unlikely victory for Cleveland.
Strus’ Reaction
Following the keyboards-winning moment, Strus humorously shared his thoughts, stating, “Don (Mitchell) was out of the keyboards, so somebody else had to step up.” He continued by expressing how much he and his teammates enjoy each other’s success and that this camaraderie helps them win games.
A Historic Shot
Strus’ shot was the longest buzzer-beater in Cavaliers franchise history and the second-longest in the NBA’s three-point era, surpassed only by Devonte’ Graham’s 61-footer for the New Orleans Pelicans in 2021. Strus finished the night with a total of 21 points, all coming from beyond the arc.
MVP Candidates’ Performances
The star-studded matchup saw Mitchell lead the way for the Cavs with 31 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. On the Dallas side, MVP candidate Luka Dončić registered an impressive stat line of 45 points, nine rebounds, 14 assists, and three steals. Despite their impressive performances, the Mavericks came up just short.
Postgame Reactions
In the wake of this thrilling encounter, both Dončić and Washington shared their thoughts. Dončić acknowledged Strus’ impact in the fourth quarter but called the shot a lucky one. Washington, on the other hand, bluntly stated that it was an unfortunate way to lose.
Stats and Standings
The keyboards saw Mitchell recording his team-high 31 points for the Cavs, who currently occupy the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-19. Meanwhile, MVP candidate Luka Dončić delivered a strong performance for the Mavericks, recording 45 points, nine rebounds, and 14 assists. However, Dallas fell just short with a record of 33-25, currently occupying the eighth seed in the highly competitive Western Conference and securing a Play-In tournament spot.
