The Cleveland Cavaliers pulled out a miracle on Tuesday night.
With just eight seconds left to play against the Dallas Mavericks, the Cavs held a 118–117 lead, needing one more defensive stop to secure the win. Cleveland nearly stole the Mavs’ inbounds pass, but the loose ball was recovered by Luka Dončić, leaving Dallas running downhill towards the basket with numbers in their favor.
Dončić fed P.J. Washington under the basket for an easy layup, and the Mavericks were up 119–118 with just two seconds to go before the buzzer.
Undeterred, Cavs swingman Max Strus passed the ball inbounds to Evan Mobley, who gave it right back to Strus.
Strus pulled up from well beyond the half-court line, and hit nothing but net.
Game over. 121–119, Cavaliers win. The home crowd goes home happy.
MAX STRUS WINS IT FOR THE CAVS 🤯
— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 28, 2024
WHAT AN ENDING IN CLEVELAND! pic.twitter.com/fen3FfS056
This is the type of stuff kids grow up dreaming up while shooting hoops in the backyard day after day after day.
Cavaliers, just go ahead and frame this picture for Strus.
1conic. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Mm73KqZ2Gl
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 28, 2024
Strus was at a loss for words when he started his postgame interview on the court with Bally Sports Cleveland, but had the perfect line when called upon.
After taking a moment to soak in the roaring crowd, and being rushed by his teammates throwing water on him in celebration, Strus was asked what he was feeling in what had to have been a surreal moment.
“I’m cold,” Strus said.
Max Strus with an incredible moment to remember as he wins the game against Dallas with a buzzer-beater from beyond half court.
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) February 28, 2024
He simply could not miss down the stretch and scored 15 points in less than four minutes to win it!
Chills! #LetEmKnow | @SerenaWinters pic.twitter.com/mW9tThTQRz
You certainly are, Max, in more ways than one.
