The Dallas Mavericks Were far from energetic in their first game since the Luka Doncic team traded to the Los Angeles Lakers and Anthony Davis.
The Mavericks were the Cleveland Cavaliers 91 points during the break and lost the match 144-101.
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Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill responds after touching a 3-point basket in the first half of an NBA basketball match against the Dallas Mavericks, Sunday 2 February 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Oogrocki)
“Everyone was just locked up, even with the exchange and everything that was going on today,” said Cavs star Evan Mobley after the game. “We started hot and kept our foot on the gas.”
Sam Merrill added nine 3-Pointers for Cleveland. The Cavaliers made 16 3-Pointers in the first half and ended with 26 in total.
“We were at 80 (points) with four minutes to go, and I had something like:” Man, let’s try to get 100, “said Merrill. “But these games are not always easy. I have been a part of games that everyone is out of, and it is a close game because it is difficult to have the right mindset in a game like this.
“It is such an honor to the starters to come out and to play and communicate and defend in the right way and to share the basketball. To go to that big lead and then the bench boys come in and hold It is about 80s only 90 (
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Mavericks -guard Luka Doncic looks up from the team bank during the second quarter against the Washington Wizards in the American Airlines Center on January 27, 2025 in Dallas. (Jerome Miron imagn images)
It was the closure of a wild day for the Mavericks. Dallas woke up and the five-fold all-star was abruptly traded on the Lakers.
Mavericks General Manager Nico Harrison defended the deal before the competition.
“I understand why (fans) would be shocked in the first instance,” Harrison said the Dallas Morning News.
“But I really believe that we have positioned ourselves to win now and also win in the future. And that is ultimately the goal and why we are here. It is one of those things where it is my job to make the difficult decisions Take our goals first and especially. “
The $ 207 million extension of Doncic will end this year and he should have a supermax that was worth more than $ 340 million. Moreover, he was able to unsubscribe from other deals soon. So, Harrison wanted security. Now he is no longer eligible for the supermax.
“We really have the feeling that we have sustained what would be a tumultuous summer, that he is eligible for the supermax and also a year away from him who can unsubscribe from a contract,” Harrison said. “And so we really felt like we got out for that. We know teams, they had it there, have charged teams to try to sign him as soon as that becomes available.”
Dallas Maverick’s head coach Jason Kidd, left, and general director Nico Harrison discuss the trade of Luka Doncic on 2 February 2025 in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Oogrocki)
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Doncic thanked fans for their support while he was with Dallas. He did not mention the Mavericks in his farewell message.
Ryan Morik and The Associated Press from Fox News have contributed to this report.
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