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Cavs score vs Mavericks | Cavaliers set records and blow out Mavs after Luka Doncic trade
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- Cavs score vs Mavericks | Cavaliers set records and blow out Mavs after Luka Doncic trade
CLEVELAND — By coincidence, the Cavaliers found themselves playing a unique part in NBA history on Sunday afternoon. They responded by rolling to a record-setting 144-101 victory over the Dallas Mavericks .
The Cavs were the first team to face Dallas after the Mavs shocked the world of sports overnight by trading star guard Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers , where he'll team up with Akron native LeBron James . The blockbuster deal sent star center Anthony Davis to Dallas to become a running mate with Kyrie Irving . Neither Davis nor Irving played.
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Meanwhile, the Cavs (40-9) secured their fourth consecutive win and a 2-0 record this season against the Mavericks (26-24). Here is how the game at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse unfolded through our updates.
Cavs set franchise record for 3-pointers made in a game
With 1:49 left in the fourth quarter, Sam Merrill drained a 3-pointer, giving the Cavs a franchise record for 3s in a game with 26. Fellow backup guard Ty Jerome had tied the record by draining a 3-pointer with 2:46 remaining.The Cavs' previous regular-season and playoff records for the number of 3-pointers in a game were both 25. The old regular-season record was established on March 3, 2017, at the Atlanta Hawks . The old playoff record was set on May 4, 2016, against the Hawks.
Merrill had a team-high nine 3-pointers and tied a career high with 27 points. He also led the Cavs in scoring Sunday, followed by forward Evan Mobley 's 22 points.
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Guard Jaden Hardy scored a team-high 21 points for the Mavs.
Dallas Mavericks trail the Cleveland Cavaliers 130-81 with 8:44 left in the fourth quarter
Guard Sam Merrill has 18 points off the bench for the Cavs. He has made six of Cleveland's 22 successful 3-pointers, and the Cavs lead the Mavericks 130-81 with 8:44 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Merrill entered Sunday with a season-high point total of 20, which he produced on Dec. 23 in a win over his hometown Utah Jazz .
Cavaliers lead by 44, have hit 19 3-pointers entering fourth quarter
The Cavs will take a 119-75 lead into the fourth quarter, and their starters are likely done for the day.
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They've also hit 19 3s on 30 attempts, putting them 10 away from tying the NBA team record in a single game.
In only three quarters, Cleveland has six players with at least 12 points. Evan Mobley has a team-high 22.
Cavs pass 100-point mark with 8 minutes left in third quarter vs. Mavs
Dallas Mavericks Defense (non-existent) has been ruled OUT for the rest of the game.
The Cavs are now up 49 points, 103-54, early in the third quarter. It's a shellacking. Max Strus is throwing down dunks. Jarrett Allen had a nasty block at one end and a dunk at the the other. Evan Mobley has a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and made a 3-pointer while this was being typed.
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Their 3-point pace has slowed, though, as they've only made one in the third quarter.
Cavs set franchise record with 91 points in first half, threatening NBA record for 3s in a single game
The Cavs have set a franchise record for points in a half and lead the Mavericks 91-46 after the second quarter.
Cleveland's previous single-half record in the regular season was 83 points, accomplished once in 1983 and again in 1993. They also scored 86 in a half in the 2017 NBA Finals against the Golden State Warriors .
The NBA team record for 3s in a single game is 29. The Milwaukee Bucks hit 29 3s in a game in 2020 and the Boston Celtics tied that record last October. No team in NBA history has hit 30 3s in a regular-season game.
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The Cavs, meanwhile, made 16 3s on 22 attempts in the first half. With a 45-point lead at the half, though, it's unlikely they'll keep the starters in for too long.
Even the baby race at halftime wasn't close. An adorable baby girl absolutely dominated (five toddlers were lined up and had to crawl across the court), following in the Cavs' footsteps.
Cavs, Mavs score update: Cleveland leads by more than 40
If you're wondering if there's any possible way the Cavs could keep extending their lead even though they ended the first quarter up 31, the answer is somehow yes.
Cleveland has opened up a ridiculous 85-44 lead with two minutes left in the second quarter. They just keep pouring in shot after shot.
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The Cavs are shooting 67 percent from the floor and 73 percent from 3-point range. It's basically just a high-intensity shootaround.
Darius Garland has 17 points and has hit six of his seven shot attempts. Evan Mobley is up to 15 points and eight rebounds. Merrill has hit all four of his 3-point attempts for 12 points.
Cavaliers, Mavericks score: Cleveland follows up 50-point first quarter to extend lead in second quarter
The Cavs are still shredding Dallas' defense (or what's left of it).
They're now up 60-26 with 8:49 left in the first half. Evan Mobley already has 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists, and he just threw down a two-handed dunk after breaking free. Garland's 13 points remains the team high.
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It probably isn't a huge surprise that the Mavs, fresh off of a franchise-altering trade and with several injuries to boot, haven't exactly shown up today. It looks like a varsity-vs-JV game right now.
Feb 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome (2) celebrates after hitting a three point basket during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavs set franchise record for points in a quarter and lead Dallas Mavericks 50-19 at the end of the first quarter
The Cavs led the Mavericks 50-19 the end of the first quarter. Cleveland set a franchise record for points in a quarter with the outburst.
All-Star starter Donovan Mitchell made a 3-pointer with 3.3 seconds left to get the Cavs to the 50-point mark.
Point guard Darius Garland and Mitchell led the Cavs with 13 and nine points, respectively, through the first quarter.
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The Cavs went 18-of-25 shooting from the field in the opening quarter. The Mavs went 7-of-24 shooting from the floor.
The Cavs had previously scored 49 points in a quarter twice, once earlier this season in a win over the Chicago Bulls and once in a victory over the Golden State Warriors during the 2017 NBA Finals.
Cavs All-Stars Darius Garland and Evan Mobley combined to make their first seven shots against the Mavericks
Leading 34-15, the Cavs called timeout with 3:43 left in the first quarter after surrendering an alley-oop.
But, hey, the Cavaliers held a 19-point lead against the Mavericks after Garland and forward Evan Mobley combined to make their first seven field goals of the game (Garland five and Mobley two). Mobley had eight points in the first quarter.
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Garland and Mobley were recently voted All-Star reserves by the league's coaches.
Feb 2, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Olivier-Maxence Prosper (8) defends against Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) during the first half at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavaliers lead Dallas Mavericks 27-9 with 5:45 left in the first quarter
In the mist of a 21-4 run by the Cavs, the Mavericks called timeout with 5:45 left in the opening quarter as they faced a 27-9 deficit.
Mobley made a 3-pointer to boost the Cavs' lead to 18 points and compel Mavs coach Jason Kidd to use his second timeout of the game.
As a team, the Cavs started the game 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.
Darius Garland is on fire from 3-point range early, and Cavs lead Mavericks 15-7 with 8:18 left in the first quarter
Garland made his first three shots of the game — 3 pointers with 9:25, 8:40 and 8:19 left in the first quarter. Garland's hot hand allowed the Cavs to go ahead 15-7 and prompted the Mavs to call timeout with 8:18 left in the opening quarter.
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Here is some pregame information:
Will former Lakers big man Anthony Davis play for the Dallas Mavericks against the Cleveland Cavaliers ?
The Mavs announced the trade Sunday morning, but they ruled out Davis along with guard Max Christie , another player in the Doncic deal, under a "trade pending" designation.
Davis has been dealing with an abdominal muscle strain. Doncic has been dealing with a left calf strain.
Nov 22, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (77) passes the ball against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Cavs injury report
The Cavs ruled out forwards Dean Wade (right knee bone bruise), Isaac Okoro (sprained AC joint in right shoulder) and guard Craig Porter Jr. (illness). The team announced guard Caris LeVert (right wrist sprain) is available to play after missing the past seven games.
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Mavericks injury report
In addition to Davis and Christie, Irving (right shoulder soreness), P.J. Washington Jr. (right knee soreness), Daniel Gafford (left ankle soreness), Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Dwight Powell (right hip strain) are all out against the Cavaliers.
Jan 30, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images
Cleveland Cavaliers broadcast information. How can I watch on TV, listen on radio or stream the Cavs, Mavericks game?
Sunday's game can be watched locally on the FanDuel Sports Network . It can be heard on the radio via WMMS (100.7-FM) and WTAM (1100-AM).
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs set records and blow out Mavericks right after Luka Doncic trade
