Cavaliers Rout Mavericks as Dallas Faces New Era Without Dončić: 'Still Shocked Right Now'

Mavericks fall 144-101 to Cavaliers after trading Luka Dončić to Lakers, shocking players and fans alike. Cleveland sets a franchise record with 26 three-pointers.

Photo: Dallas Mavericks

CLEVELAND — The Dallas Mavericks (26-24) shifted dramatically early Sunday as news broke that Luka Dončić, the face of the franchise, had been traded to the Los Angeles Lakers. The aftershocks were palpable mere hours later when the Mavericks fell 144-101 to the Cleveland Cavaliers (40-9) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

The blockbuster deal sent Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris to Los Angeles in exchange for Anthony Davis and Max Christie. This seismic shift in roster composition left the Mavericks disoriented on the court, where the Cavaliers capitalized ruthlessly, setting a franchise record with 26 three-pointers.

“I was like everybody – did Shams get hacked? It was a real big shock,” Mavericks guard Danté Exum said. “I’ve been traded twice, and you just learn that it’s how this business works, and it’s something you have to adjust to."

The Mavericks continued to play shorthanded as they were without Kyrie Irving (right shoulder soreness), P.J. Washington (right knee soreness), and Daniel Gafford (left ankle soreness) after they were each downgraded from questionable to out. Meanwhile, Dereck Lively II (right ankle stress fracture) and Dwight Powell (right hip strain) remained sidelined.

Evan Mobley led the scoring with 22 points, spearheading a Cavaliers' offense that set a franchise record with 91 first-half points, tying for the third-most in a half in NBA history. Darius Garland contributed 17 points and 10 assists, while Sam Merrill tied a franchise record with nine 3-pointers, highlighting a day when Cleveland hit 26 shots from beyond the arc.

The Cavs’ blistering start was exemplified by Garland's remarkable performance early in the game. He hit three made three-pointers in just 66 seconds, propelling Cleveland to a 27-9 lead. This early blitz underpinned a first quarter in which the Cavaliers scored 50 points, setting the tone for a game that saw them build a commanding 45-point lead by halftime.

Jaden Hardy, who led the Mavericks with 21 points, discussed the emotional toll of the former franchise cornerstone being traded.

“It’s tough, but we all have a job to do,” Hardy said. “Obviously a lot of people were caught off guard, same with the team, like the rest of the world. He was special. A lot of guys felt for him. Still shocked right now.”