The Cavaliers Just Did This For The First Time In Nearly 23 Years
The Cleveland Cavaliers began their 2023-24 season in the win column, defeating the Brooklyn Nets in a 114-113 thriller on the road.
With this victory, Cleveland accomplished something they hadn’t in nearly 23 years.
According to @CavsNotes on X, the Cavaliers earned their first win in a road season-opener since October 31st, 2000, when they also defeated the Nets.
Cleveland earned the victory with a new look compared to a season ago, as Max Strus, Georges Niang, Damian Jones, and Ty Jerome each made their regular-season Cleveland debuts.
Last season, Cleveland’s offense ranked in the bottom half of the NBA in three-pointers made (11.6) and attempted (31.6) per game. As a result, the team strived to address shooting in the offseason.
Enter Strus.
Oct 25, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Brooklyn Nets during the third quarter at Barclays Center.
© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
He had one of the premier Wine and Gold debuts in franchise history, tying a team-high with 27 points and grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds. Strus quickly lived up to his billing as a strong three-point shooter by hitting seven of his 13 three-point attempts, both of which were game-highs.
His seven three-pointers in his first game with the Cavaliers set a new franchise record. This mark with a new team also tied an NBA record, per @CavsNotes on X.
As a team, the Cavaliers went 17-for-43 from deep with a faster-paced, more perimeter-oriented offense than last season.
Cleveland also got multiple three-pointers from Donovan Mitchell (four), Caris LeVert (three), and Isaac Okoro (two), with another from Darius Garland to begin the second quarter.
But it was the game’s final three-pointer that mattered most, as Mitchell hit a game-winning triple with 12.1 seconds remaining.
The Cavaliers look to start the season 2-0 in their home-opener tomorrow night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
