Cavs' Max Strus Nails Insane 59-Foot Game Winner To Send Mavericks Home With Heart-Wrenching L
Max Strus made all the difference Tuesday night for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the closing moments of a basketball game don't get more cinematic than this …
The Cavs put their fans through a blender of emotions, facing off against the Dallas Mavericks. It all came down to a final shot attempt by Cavs small forward Max Strus, who heaved the ball 59 feet, down 119-118 to the Mavs.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Max Strus #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after scoring the game winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks on February 27, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Cleveland held the lead, 118-117, before Mavericks guard P.J. Washington drove into the paint for a tough layup. Washington flexed at the Cavaliers after his score, with 2.6 seconds on the clock. It was too early a celebration … 2.6 seconds later, Washington found himself disgusted by Strus' game-winner (womp womp).
Strus was hot from three before his absurd game-winner. He nailed five clutch three-point shots, including the winner, in the final three minutes of action to complete a Cleveland comeback. The Cavs faced a 10-point pit with in the final minutes.
Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse ate up every one of Strus' clutch shots down the stretch.
For the game-winner, Strus unbounded the ball to Evan Mobley, and received the ball back before taking one dribble and throwing up the 59-footer that was nothing but nylon.
The shot went in and the clock ran out. Cleveland won the thriller over Dallas, 121-119. Strus' game-winner became the second-longest game-winner in NBA history. He finished with 21 points on 7 of 12 shooting. Former Oklahoma City guard Devonte' Graham holds the record for longest game-winner at 61 feet.
Dallas sauntered home with an L despite Luka Doncic's 45 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds.
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Max Strus #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after the game winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks on February 27, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 27: Max Strus #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the media after scoring the game winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks on February 27, 2024 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images)
Strus, a Miami Heatle-turned-Cav, received immense praise from Cavs personnel, including coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
"[Strus] was the guy," Bickerstaff said after the game. "That's one of the things, that we're fortunate with this group, is on any given night, we've got a guy who can step up and make huge plays."
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