The Cleveland Cavaliers guard showcased an outstanding performance in Tuesday’s thrilling 121-119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, with a remarkable final play stealing the show.
Max Strus, contributing 21 points throughout the game, sealed the win with a jaw-dropping three-pointer from beyond halfcourt just as the buzzer sounded, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat after P.J. Washington had momentarily given the Mavericks the lead in the closing seconds.
The electrifying finish sparked a frenzy on social media:
Bleacher Report exclaimed, “CAVS GAME WINNER FROM HALF COURT 😱 WILD ENDING IN CLEVELAND 🤯” accompanied by a video clip of Strus’ incredible shot.
CAVS GAME WINNER FROM HALF COURT 😱
WILD ENDING IN CLEVELAND 🤯 pic.twitter.com/80xSb9W7xY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 28, 2024
NFL star Patrick Mahomes II couldn’t believe his eyes, tweeting, “Ain’t no way 😂😂😂 @tkelce” alongside a shocked emoji and a retweet of the unbelievable shot.
Ain’t no way 😂😂😂 @tkelce https://t.co/pKOifbRMSa
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) February 28, 2024
Travis Kelce celebrated the moment, declaring, “Straight cash!!! Them boys got the juice right now!! @cavs 🔥🔥🔥” and sharing his excitement with a fire emoji.
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ official Twitter account hailed the moment as iconic, tweeting, “#LetEmKnow” alongside a video highlight of Strus’ game-winning shot.
1conic. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/Mm73KqZ2Gl
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 28, 2024
Yahoo Sports highlighted Strus’ clutch performance in the final minutes of the game, noting his 15 points, perfect shooting from beyond the arc, and the game-winning shot from halfcourt, which propelled the Cavs to a stunning comeback victory.
Fans and analysts alike marveled at Strus’ heroics:
Molly Morrison expressed disbelief, tweeting, “HE JUST SWISHED IT??? FROM BEYOND HALF COURT??? MAX STRUS???” alongside a video of the memorable shot.
Sam Quinn analyzed the strategic brilliance behind the play, suggesting, “Idk if this is something the Cavs have practiced, but it’s a very, very nice setup for a full-court look. Those shots are always gonna be very low-percentage, but this looked practiced, like the Cavs know ‘if no one is defending the inbounder, pass it right back.'”
Sam Amick captured the moment of jubilation, tweeting, “Max Strus, drenched with water by his teammates in celebration, is asked what he’s feeling by @SerenaWinters… ‘I’m cold…’ In more ways than one tonight. What an incredible shot.”
The excitement wasn’t solely reserved for Strus, however, as Luka Dončić’s impressive performance for the Mavericks, with 45 points, 14 assists, nine rebounds, and three steals, also garnered attention.
Despite Dončić’s brilliance and notable performances from Kyrie Irving and Donovan Mitchell, it was Strus’ unforgettable shot that dominated headlines and secured the Cavaliers’ 38-19 record with their second consecutive victory.
