Evan Mobley spearheaded the Cleveland Cavaliers’ offensive charge with 34 points and 10 rebounds, leading his team to a 134-122 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Friday night.
The Cavaliers seized control with a 20-point run that turned a 21-17 deficit into a 37-21 lead early in the second quarter. They maintained their dominance throughout the game, leading by as many as 27 points. Mobley was particularly efficient, shooting 14-of-21 from the field, including 3-of-6 from beyond the arc.
The Cavaliers, who now hold the NBA’s best record at 30-4, extended their winning streak to nine games and remain unbeaten against Western Conference opponents this season.
The Mavericks were significantly short-handed, missing both Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Irving was sidelined due to illness, while Doncic continues to recover from a calf strain sustained during Dallas’ Christmas Day game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Without their star guards, Dallas struggled to keep pace with Cleveland’s high-powered offense.
Caris LeVert provided a spark off the bench for Cleveland, contributing 17 points. Darius Garland added 16 points and nine assists, while Donovan Mitchell chipped in with 15 points and six assists. Seven Cavaliers scored in double figures, demonstrating their depth and balanced scoring.
Dallas was led by Quentin Grimes, who recorded 26 points, including 20 in the third quarter. Jaden Hardy added 17 points off the bench, and Klay Thompson scored 16, all in the first half. However, the Mavericks’ effort fell short as they extended their losing streak to four games, matching a season-long slump.
Cleveland’s defensive pressure forced the Mavericks into 12 turnovers, and the Cavaliers capitalized with an 18-0 advantage in first-half turnover points. Cleveland limited their own mistakes, committing only eight turnovers, two of which came in the first half.
Dallas, the defending Western Conference champions, has faced challenges this season and now sits at 20-15.
