The Cavaliers Just Did This For The First Time In Over Five Years
Last night, the Cleveland Cavaliers had one of the wildest finishes to a game in NBA history.
Swingman Max Strus drained a 59-foot shot at the buzzer to defeat the Dallas Mavericks 121-119.
If you thought it had been a while since the Wine and Gold made a game-winning shot at the buzzer, then you thought correctly.
This is because according to @CavsNotes on X, Strus’ miracle heave was Cleveland’s first game-winning buzzer-beater was the team’s first since Larry Nance Jr.’s game-winning tip-in against the Indiana Pacers on December 18, 2018.
The Cavaliers’ last game-winner had quite the contrast from last night’s shot. According to Bally Sports Cleveland, Strus' shot was the second-longest game-winning buzzer-beater in the NBA's three-point era, which began in the 1979-80 season.
Feb 27, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Max Strus (1) is doused with water after hitting a last-second, game-winning three-point basket in the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
© David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Strus, however, is no stranger to game-winners from way beyond the arc. After the game, he was asked if he had ever made a shot like last night’s to win a game before.
He had indeed.
“Yeah, at my Division II school [Lewis University].” Strus said. “I made a three-quarter court shot to win a game.”
The shot he referenced happened on January 16, 2016, during his sophomore collegiate season. With 2.7 seconds remaining in a tie game, Strus caught a deflected inbound pass and made a 75-foot shot at the buzzer to defeat the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
His latest game-winning heave gave the Wine and Gold their second consecutive victory, and first at home since the NBA All-Star Break.
The Cavaliers seek their sixth winning streak of three games or more this season when they face the Chicago Bulls on the road tonight at 8 p.m.
