Mavericks’ Kyrie Irving: It Was ‘An Unfortunate Circumstance’ Losing To Cavaliers On Max Strus’ Deep 3

Dallas Mavericks point guard Kyrie Irving told NBA reporters that it was “an unfortunate circumstance” losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Max Strus‘ deep 3-pointer. 

Strus made a 59-foot shot at the buzzer to give the Cavaliers a 121-119 win over the Mavericks. 

“I can honestly say this is the first time I’ve lost on a half-court shot,” Irving said. “Just someone shooting it three-quarter court and it going all net, not touching anything. So it’s an unfortunate circumstance. We executed down the stretch, we gave ourselves a chance to win the ballgame. … You don’t flush it out of your system, you feel it. This one has got to sting a little bit.”

Strus’ game-winner was officially listed at 59 feet. Only Devonte’ Graham has made a longer game-winner in NBA history. (61 feet in December 2021).

Strus finished with 21 points against the Mavericks while shooting 7-of-12 from the field and 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Strus is the fourth player in the last 25 seasons to make five 3s in the final four minutes of a game.

“Get it up,” Strus said after the game. “I had space, I don’t know. I just shot it. … At my Division II (college), I made a three-quarter-court shot to win the game. I think it was No. 1 on ESPN.”

Irving put up 30 points in 38 minutes in his return to Cleveland while shooting 12-of-24 overall and 5-of-8 from 3-point range. The Mavericks dropped to 33-25 with the loss, while the Cavaliers improved to 38-19. 

Irving, of course, played the first six years of his career with the Cavaliers and helped the franchise win its first championship in 2016 over the 73-9 Golden State Warriors. Cleveland drafted Irving with the first overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft out of Duke.

Irving averaged 21.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.3 blocks with the Cavaliers in the regular season. 

Uncle Drew made four All-Star teams and one All-NBA team with the Cavaliers. He also won the 2011-12 Rookie of the Year Award.