Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) dunks in front of Dallas Mavericks center Kylor Kelley (50) in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
CLEVELAND — The Cavaliers ran up the score on the undermanned, overmatched Mavericks.
Cleveland scored 91 points — matching the third most in a first half in NBA history — and rolled to a 144-101 win over Dallas, which was not at full strength because of injuries and after trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers earlier Sunday.
Article continues after this advertisementThe NBA-best Cavs (40-9) set several franchise records, including 3-pointers (26), points in a quarter (50 in the first) and largest first-half lead (45). Cleveland also tied its record for 3s in a half by making 16 in the first 24 minutes.
FEATURED STORIES SPORTS NBA: Mavericks boss defends Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade SPORTS Sports world reacts to Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade SPORTS Hotshots, after destroying Road Warriors, march on to the playoffs against the best team of the eliminations in Batang Pier READ: NBA: Mavericks boss defends Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis tradeThe Cavs put on a CLINIC from beyond the arc in a big win at home!
26 3PM is the MOST in a single game in franchise history 🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/kTAIWwBTTw
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2025
“Everyone was just locked in even with the trade and everything that was going on today,” said Cavs All-Star forward Evan Mobley, who had 22 points and 11 rebounds in 23 minutes. “We started hot and kept our foot on the gas.”
Article continues after this advertisementThe Phoenix Suns own the record for points in the first half with 107 against Denver on Nov. 10, 1990. The Golden State Warriors dropped 92 on Chicago in 2018 and the Houston Rockets scored 91 against Brooklyn in 2022.
Article continues after this advertisementLate in the first half, Sam Merrill, who finished with 27 points on nine 3-pointers for Cleveland, thought anything was possible.
Article continues after this advertisement“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.”
Article continues after this advertisement READ: NBA: Luka Doncic thanks ‘special’ Mavs fans after trade to LakersMAKE IT 91 PTS IN THE FIRST HALF FOR THE CAVS 🤩
The most in ANY half for Cleveland and only the fourth 90+ PT half in the play-by-play era (1997-98)! https://t.co/Oc81UPIDyJ pic.twitter.com/IAj8v9I1vx
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2025
Dallas coach Jason Kidd and the Mavericks arrived at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse still trying to process the trade of Doncic, the face of the franchise, to LA for center Anthony Davis.
Kidd then had to take on the Cavs without Kyrie Irving and several other injured players.
It wasn’t pretty, and afterward Kidd expressed thanks 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.”
The Cavs showed no mercy on Dallas, making 9 of 11 3s in the first quarter while opening a 31-point lead. Cleveland made seven more from behind the arc in the second quarter and finished 16 of 22 (73%) on 3s in the half.
READ: Sports world reacts to Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade50 PTS IN THE FIRST QUARTER FOR THE CAVS 🤯
That's the most they've scored in ANY QUARTER in the play-by-play era (1997-98). pic.twitter.com/f8w69gKyng
— NBA (@NBA) February 2, 2025
The scoring binge continued in the second half, and when the Cavs were nearing the team record for 3s in the final minutes, Merrill said he could hear his teammates yelling for him to shoot.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
“There was definitely encouragement,” he said. “I didn’t know why everyone was yelling but I figured that was why.”
myjackpot slots & casinoMerrill’s 3 with 1:49 left broke the previous team mark of 25 3s. He missed another a few seconds later and even Tristan Thompson, who has 10 career 3s in 13 seasons, tried to get in on the fun but was short with his long-range attempt.
It was a needed breakout for Merrill, who has been struggling with his shot. He went 0 for 4 on 3s against Atlanta on Thursday and is shooting 33% on 3-pointers — 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.”
READ NEXT Art of big deal: Some blockbuster trades that shaped the NBA NBA: Mavericks boss defends Luka Doncic-Anthony Davis trade EDITORS' PICK US tariffs: A blow to the world economy BI claims ‘spies’ were PH residents for decades Grammys 2025: Beyoncé finally wins Album of the Year with ‘Cowboy Carter’ Manila Water Foundation wins 2 Anvils in 60th PRSP Awards Flight evacuated as engine sparks fire during takeoff at Houston airport Reconsider food security emergency, DA urged MOST READ Dela Rosa last passenger to board chopper which crashed in Nueva Ecija Barbie Hsu, Taiwanese actress and ‘Meteor Garden’ lead star, dies at 48 Judge in De Lima case found guilty of neglect of duty Sen. Marcos grills gov't execs on absence of AKAP list of beneficiaries Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View commentsIn a statement Wednesday, the finance department said it has signed a loan agreement amounting $111.427 million or about P6.34 billion for the Samar Pacific Coastal Road (SPCR) II project in Northern Samar, which is being supported by the Export-Import Bank of Korea-Economic Development Cooperation Fund, while a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was also signed and exchanged for the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project Phase 1 and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project.
In a statement on Wednesdayluckyhub777, the internet service provider said that Infinera would supply the submarine line terminal equipment, which facilitates the data transmission, for the fiber cable project.
