In a gut-wrenching defeat for the Dallas Mavericks against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Luka Doncic shouldered the blame for the narrow loss, acknowledging his role in allowing Max Struss’ remarkable 70-foot buzzer-beater.
The Mavericks suffered their second consecutive loss to the Cavaliers, this time falling short by just two points, with Doncic taking responsibility for the tough road defeat. The game concluded dramatically, as Struss’ incredible long-range shot sealed the victory for the Cavaliers, leaving Doncic regretting his inability to prevent it.
With only 8.3 seconds remaining, the Mavericks appeared to have the game under control after forcing a turnover. Doncic’s precise bounce pass led to an assist for PJ Washington, giving the Mavericks a slim one-point lead with just three seconds left on the clock. However, Struss’ audacious shot from 70 feet out, despite Doncic’s defense, dashed the Mavericks’ hopes of securing the win.
The Mavericks’ recent struggles extend beyond this defeat, as they have now suffered back-to-back losses following the NBA All-Star Weekend. Despite a promising start highlighted by a victory over the Phoenix Suns, the team’s current record of 33-25 places them as the eighth-best team in the highly competitive NBA Western Conference.
Luka Doncic stellar individual performance, boasting 45 points, 14 assists, and nine rebounds, was not enough to propel the Mavericks to victory. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 31 points, contributing to their triumph over Dallas.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks aim to bounce back from their recent setbacks with upcoming road games against the Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics on February 28th and March 1st, respectively. They will then return to the American Airlines Center on March 3rd to face the Philadelphia 76ers, seeking to regain momentum and climb the standings in the Western Conference.
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