The Dallas Mavericks fell to a heartbreaking 119-121 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with Max Strus making six three-pointers in the fourth quarter. This was capped off with a 60-foot buzzer-beating three that gave the Cavs the two-point win.
Luka Doncic opened up on the play, taking accountability for not defending Max on the heave.
“That was my fault. I should have pressed up more. I was the first one, so that was my bad.”
Doncic also reacted to the shot, still stunned after the game.
“Incredible shot. I have nothing much to say. Max hurt us in the 4th quarter a lot, but that was an incredible shot, man.”
An incredible performance from Doncic went to waste, as he put up 45 points, nine rebounds, and 14 assists in the loss. It’s hard to unilaterally say the loss was Doncic’s fault, as the Mavericks had a 10-point lead with under four minutes left before Strus single-handedly added 15 points to keep the Cavs in the game and eventually win it with a prayer.
Max Strus with one of the greatest shooting sequences of all time. As clutch as it gets. pic.twitter.com/o2Udnag8kV
— Ballsack Sports (@BallsackSports) February 28, 2024
Dallas had overturned a 15-point deficit in this game, further showing how much they’ve improved since the trade deadline. But this miracle shot means they’ve lost consecutive games and are falling behind in the top-six race in the West. They’re currently the No. 8 seed and sit 1.5 games behind the No. 5 seed.
Luka Doncic’s Positive New Attitude Can Be The Difference
Nobody has questioned what Doncic can achieve on the court, especially offensively. He’s arguably the most gifted offensive player in the NBA right now, leading the NBA in scoring and also being top-five in assists. His defense has been questioned since his rookie year, with the 2023-24 season being the best defensive year of his career.
Ever since he returned from his ankle injury in January, Doncic has actively been defending to the best of his abilities and has played a part in the Mavs improved defense over the last 10 games. You can’t excessively criticize someone not fully guarding a 60-foot shot attempt, as a foul in that situation would be much worse than a made shot. This was a rough loss but it could inspire Dallas into a run.
Doncic is averaging 34.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 9.6 assists this season, with this game further boosting his averages across the board. If he wants to contend for MVP, Doncic will need to lead the Mavs into having the best record in the NBA over their last 24 games to even have a shot. But taking accountability after a loss like that, despite the numbers he dropped shows he’s willing to do whatever it takes to win.
The Mavericks have more tricky fixtures left on their current road trip, with a game against the Toronto Raptors tomorrow night. Their biggest game of the season is also coming up, as they’ll face the Celtics in the TD Garden as the ultimate test of whether this team is a legitimate contender or not.
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