Dallas, TX – Evan Mobley showcased an impressive performance with 34 points and 10 rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 134-122 victory over the depleted Dallas Mavericks on Friday evening.
The win marked the Cavaliers’ ninth consecutive victory, elevating their record to 30-4 and solidifying their status as the top team in the NBA. They successfully completed a four-game Western Conference road trip and remain unbeaten in their last ten encounters against Western teams. Notably, each of the nine victories during this winning streak has come by a margin of at least ten points.
The Mavericks faced significant challenges without their star guards, Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Irving was out due to illness, while Doncic has been recovering from a calf strain sustained during a Christmas Day game against Minnesota.
Caris LeVert contributed significantly to the Cavaliers’ efforts, scoring 17 points off the bench.
On the Mavericks’ side, Quentin Grimes led the way with 26 points, including an impressive 20 points scored in the third quarter. However, the team has now suffered four consecutive losses, tying their longest losing streak of the current season. Jaden Hardy came off the bench to add 17 points, while Klay Thompson scored 16 points — all in the first half.
Cleveland executed a notable 20-point run that shifted the game dramatically; they turned a 21-17 deficit late in the opening quarter into a commanding 37-21 lead early in the second quarter. At one point, the Cavaliers enjoyed a staggering 27-point advantage.
Key Observations:
For the Cavaliers, six players have consistently averaged double figures in scoring throughout this season, and in this game alone, they had seven players reach that mark.
Contrarily, the Mavericks, last season’s Western Conference champions, started the Christmas period trailing Oklahoma City by 4.5 games and now find themselves 9.5 games behind.
A pivotal moment in the match occurred when Klay Thompson drained back-to-back three-pointers, bringing the Mavericks to within 64-53 with only 44 seconds left in the first half. Nevertheless, the Cavaliers closed the half strong, scoring five consecutive points, including LeVert’s three-pointer from the left corner just before the buzzer that pushed the halftime score to 69-53.
In terms of statistics, the Cavaliers dominated in points off turnovers, outscoring the Mavericks 18-0 in the first half. Overall, they matched a season-low in turnovers with just eight, two of which occurred in the first half.
Looking ahead, the Cavaliers will be back in action at home against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, the Mavericks will take to the road to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
