The Cavaliers blew out the shorthanded Mavericks with a huge first half performance.
Cleveland scored 91 points, tying the third-most ever in an NBA first half, and went on to win 144-101 over Dallas, which was missing key players due to injuries and the trade of superstar Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier that day.
The top-ranked Cavs (40-9) set several franchise records, including for most 3-pointers (26), most points in a quarter (50 in the first), and largest first-half lead (45). Cleveland also tied their record for 3-pointers in a half by hitting 16 in the first 24 minutes.
“Everyone was just locked in even with the trade and everything that was going on today,” said Cavs All-Star forward Evan Mobley, who scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes. “We started hot and kept our foot on the gas.”
The Phoenix Suns hold the record for most points in a first half with 107 against Denver in 1990. The Golden State Warriors scored 92 against Chicago in 2018, and the Houston Rockets hit 91 against Brooklyn in 2022.
Late in the first half, Sam Merrill, who finished with 27 points and nine 3-pointers for Cleveland, thought anything was possible.
“We were at 80 (points) with like four minutes left and I was like, ‘Man, let’s try to get 100,’” Merrill said. “But these games aren’t always easy. I’ve been a part of games where everyone is out and it’s a close game because it’s hard to have the right mindset in a game like this.”
“It’s such a credit to the starters to come out and play the right way and communicate and defend and share the basketball. To get out to that big lead and then the bench guys come in and keep it going. I’ve been a part of some 80s but 90 (at halftime) is crazy.”
Dallas coach Jason Kidd and the Mavericks arrived at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse still processing the trade of Dončić to LA for center Anthony Davis. Kidd then had to face the Cavs without Kyrie Irving and several other injured players.
The game didn’t go well, and Kidd was thankful it wasn’t worse.
“No one got hurt and we were able to give guys time who usually don’t get time,” Kidd said. “We just got off to a slow start. They shot the 3 at a high level and they’ve done that all year.”
Cleveland showed no mercy, making 9 of 11 3-pointers in the first quarter and taking a 31-point lead. They hit seven more in the second quarter and finished 16 of 22 (73%) on 3-pointers in the half.
The scoring spree continued in the second half, and when the Cavs neared their team record for 3-pointers late in the game, Merrill heard his teammates urging him to shoot.
“There was definitely encouragement,” he said. “I didn’t know why everyone was yelling but I figured that was why.”
Merrill’s 3-pointer with 1:49 left broke the previous team record of 25 3-pointers. He missed another a few seconds later, and even Tristan Thompson, who has 10 career 3-pointers in 13 seasons, tried but missed a long-range shot.
It was a much-needed breakout game for Merrill, who had been struggling with his shot. He went 0 for 4 on 3-pointers in the previous game against Atlanta and is shooting 33% from behind the arc this season, five points below his career average.
“It feels good to have a great shooting game like that, but it’s only one game,” Merrill said. “It’s all about getting into a rhythm. There were times this year where I felt I was starting to get into a rhythm and then last game I got sick. So one game was fun but we move on to the next one.”
