Max Strus Makes Historic Game-Winning Shot from Half-Court in NBA Victory

Max Strus fired from 18 meters over Luka Doncic (JASON MILLER)

Throw of the year in the NBA: Max Strus from the Cleveland Cavaliers caused a stir with a historic game-winner from his own half. The American scored from 18 meters for a 121:119 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, where Maxi Kleber had to watch idly. With 2.6 seconds left on the clock, Strus threw in under his own basket, got the ball back and fired after a dribble. The ball didn’t even touch the ring during the circus throw; the Cavs arena exploded. Since the three-point line was introduced in the NBA (1979), there has only been one winning buzzer-beater that was made from even further away.

The 27-year-old said he was lucky that superstar Donovan Mitchell wasn’t on the field. Mitchell was substituted for the defensively stronger Isaac Okoro eight seconds before the end when the Cavs were leading 118:117 – and would probably have been scheduled for the final throw. Then the match winner had to briefly interrupt the interview, to a standing ovation from the still packed arena: Mitchell and his team-mates celebrated and doused him with water. Strus’ confident response to the shower: “I’m cold.” And the game: “It was great.”

“I dream of a shot like that,” said All-Star Mitchell, who praised his teammate highly. It is “simply right” that this strus succeeds. Cavs center Jarrett Allen said, “When you have a guy like Max Strus, anything is possible.”

The guard didn’t just have a great day because of his game winner: Shortly before the end of the game, he hit four three-pointers within 66 seconds, enabling the Cavs to catch up. “All the throws felt good and I got into my rhythm,” said Strus. With every throw he thought he would score. “Even with the last one,” he emphasized later in the dressing room.

2024-02-28 10:47:35
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