Dallas Mavericks Lose to Cleveland Cavaliers 134-122

The Dallas Mavericks returned home to host the Cleveland Cavaliers in a one-game tilt at the American Airlines Center on Friday. The Mavericks entered the game with three straight losses, while the Cavaliers — the best team in the NBA’s Eastern Conference — had an eight-game win streak. The Mavericks’ previous journey was difficult with four games in six days over three different time zones and they tried to prioritize improving their offense.

The Mavericks lost to the Cavaliers 134-122. Dallas fell to 20-15, while Cleveland improved to 30-4. Quentin Grimes led the Mavericks’ scoring with 26 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. Jaden Hardy followed up with 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. Klay Thompson added 16 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. PJ Washington Jr. had 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 assist. 

Dallas Mavericks-Cleveland Cavaliers Recap

The Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game was action-packed from start to finish. The Mavericks ruled out Luka Doncic with a left calf strain, Kyrie Irving with an illness, Dante Exum with right wrist surgery, and Naji Marshall with a suspension. Doncic will likely be sidelined throughout January, with his next re-evaluation scheduled for January 25. The Cavaliers ruled out Isaac Okoro with an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder.

The Mavericks’ new-look starting lineup featured Quentin Grimes, Klay Thompson, Spencer Dinwiddie, PJ Washington Jr., and Dereck Lively II. RotoWire’s Adam King recently grouped Grimes and Dinwiddie as drastically under-rostered, as both players have — and should continue — to play a significant role as the Mavericks strive to stay afloat amid Doncic’s absence.

The first quarter saw the Mavericks take an early 2-0 lead on a field goal before the Cavaliers took the first lead of the game, 3-2, on Dean Wade’s early three-pointer. The Cavaliers poured in the points but the Mavericks slowly picked up the pace with some scoring plays, but the Cavaliers took a commanding 32-21 lead at the end of the first.

The second quarter saw a continuous effort from both ends of the court. Both teams racked up points from the get-go. PJ Washington Jr.’s jump shot was a highlight reel moment for the Mavericks, while Evan Mobley’s rim shot shined, just like the Cavaliers’ beautiful ball movement. The Cavaliers remained on top with a 69-35 lead at halftime. 

Cleveland Continued To Play Well

The third quarter saw the Cavaliers’ fast start for a sizeable lead in the opening minutes. Donovan Mitchell had a chance to achieve a four-point play after knocking down a notable three-pointer. The Cavaliers reached the 100-point plateau with just over two minutes left on the scoreboard and fended off the Mavericks’ late scoring surge. The Cavaliers led 100-85 through three quarters.

The fourth quarter was a make-or-break moment for the Mavericks, who witnessed Quentin Grimes’ noteworthy 22-point third-quarter performance. The Cavaliers benefited from Caris LeVert’s services after back-to-back poor performances of just 12 points combined and 4-of-13 shooting from the field. The Mavericks cut the lead to 127-117 in the final minutes, but the Cavaliers prevailed for a 134-122 win in regulation.

Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers Highlights

The Dallas Mavericks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game featured multiple highlights, such as NBA fans reacting to Klay Thompson’s performance on Wednesday. Thompson finished with 16 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal while shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 4-of-8 from the three-point line in 32 minutes. One user took to X, formerly Twitter, and wrote, “Death, taxes, and Klay Thompson draining threes inside Toyota Center.”

For the Mavericks, trade rumors have been heating up — and they could benefit from a trade centered around the New Orleans Pelicans’ Herb Jones. According to a recent report, Jones could be on the Mavericks’ target list, but it’s unclear if the Pelicans will trade him or not. If so, Jones would elevate the Mavericks as an elite perimeter defender capable of burying three-point shots at a high clip.

For the Cavaliers, their trade deadline problem is becoming more obvious. The Cavaliers boast the NBA’s best record at 28-4, but their weaknesses include their lack of big man depth and a big wing defender. The Cavaliers watched their top target, Dorian Finney-Smith, get dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Cavaliers’ next trade could be for the New Orleans Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram but that will be difficult with their top-heavy group.

Final Thoughts

The Dallas Mavericks lost to the Houston Rockets 110-99 at the Toyota Center on Wednesday night. The Mavericks lost four of their last five games and finished their weeklong road trip with a 1-3 record. The injury bug hit the Mavericks’ starting lineup again, as PJ Washington suffered a right knee sprain in the first half. Washington’s latest injury was part of what bothered the Mavericks in their loss to the Rockets.

Grimes led the Mavericks with 17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block. Grimes, who was born in Houston, was a star shooting guard at The Woodlands College Park High School in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburban community 28 miles north of Houston. He averaged 29.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game as a senior in the 2017-18 school year.

The Mavericks have been going through hard times but will take on the Memphis Grizzlies in a one-game tilt on Monday at 7:00 p.m. Central. The Grizzlies concluded a two-game West Coast road trip with two games — one against the Sacramento Kings and the other against the Golden State Warriors —  before returning home for a two-game homestand against the Mavericks and Houston Rockets on Monday and Thursday, respectively.