Credit: NBA
Tuesday’s game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks featured not only one of the most clutch fourth-quarter performances in NBA history, it also featured one of the greatest game-winning, buzzer-beater shots of all time, courtesy of Cavs shooting guard Max Strus.
The game was tight from the beginning. Luka Doncic of the Mavericks was putting on a show, as he usually does, putting up a ridiculous stat line of 45 points, 14 assists and nine rebounds. Donovan Mitchell of the Cavs was doing his best to keep it even despite Luka’s performance, however, the Mavs started to pull away in the fourth quarter.
Late in the fourth, the Mavs achieved a double-figure lead following a catch-and-shoot three from Maxi Kleber putting them up 108-98 - but it did not last long. Cavs sharpshooter Max Strus converted from the perimeter on four consecutive possessions to rally Cleveland back within one point with 2:35 left to play. The back-and-forth play continued, which was capped off by P.J. Washington of the Mavs scoring a tough two-pointer to put them up 119-118 with just 2.1 seconds left to play.
The game was pretty much over. The Cavs had no timeouts, with only 2.1 seconds left to score a bucket - a nearly impossible feat to accomplish in the NBA. Off the inbound, Cavs centre Evan Mobley fed the ball to Strus who was already hot from beyond the arc. Struss then threw up a 59-foot game-winning bomb - the second-longest game-winner in NBA history - securing another win for the Cavs who have posted a 7-3 record in their last 10 outings.
With this win, the Cavs managed to maintain their standing of second in the Eastern Conference with a record of 38-19. However, not only was this win a massive accomplishment for the Cavs as they continue to tear through the East, it was, more importantly, a massive accomplishment for Max Strus, who put up one of the most clutch fourth-quarter performances alongside one of the most clutch game-winning shots in league history on the same night.
Credit: NBA
Strus put on an all-time performance last night solely based on his fourth-quarter sharp shooting through which he single-handedly rallied the entire Cavs team back into the game. In just five minutes of fourth-quarter playing time, Strus racked up 15 points off of four consecutive three-balls, and a game-winning, record-setting half-court shot to seal the deal. He ended the game with 21 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Strus joined the Cavs just this past offseason on a four-year, $63 million contract in a sign-and-trade agreement. After putting on a showdown in South Beach last season with the Miami Heat, essentially being Bam Adebayo and Jimmy Butler’s right-hand man in their run to the NBA Finals, Strus’ trade value skyrocketed. The sharpshooting guard with a huge competitive attitude and will to win seemed to want a bigger role, however, which he got with the Cavs. Despite playing alongside Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, Strus averages 32 minutes of playing time per game. He’s putting up 12.3 points, 3.8 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game, career-high numbers for the 27-year-old.
Last night’s performance from Max, however, despite not putting up massive numbers, was easily his greatest of the season. Strus became the fourth player in the last 25 years to connect on five three-pointers in the last four minutes of the game. He capped off the game with a 59-foot buzzer-beater, which is effectively the second-longest game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history behind Devonte Graham’s 61-footer in 2021.
Strus struggled to put into words what he was feeling when he started his post-game interview on the court. After taking in a moment to soak in the roaring crowd, Strus was asked how he felt in such a surreal moment.
“I’m cold,” Strus said.
Credit: Sue Ogrocki/AP
The Cavs should look to build off of the energy that Strus brings to the table. Aside from his shooting and scoring abilities, he brings an all-or-nothing attitude to the court every day and is easily one of the biggest competitors in the NBA. He demonstrates this on a nightly basis through his willingness to do whatever it takes to win, as well as put his body on the line for the team.
The Cavs have a real shot at a ring this year, which has been essentially a lost hope since Lebron James left in 2018. Lebron was their saving grace and hometown hero. He led the team to their first-ever franchise ring in 2016. However, after leaving for the second time, that pretty much fell off the map.
Now, with some off-season moves, development of their young core and great team chemistry, the Cavs are shaping up to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the NBA this year and will be extremely tough to beat come playoff time.
If the Cavs can take anything with them into the playoffs this year, it should be to play like Max Strus, doing whatever it takes to win.
Edited By: Josh Reidelbach
