Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks Match Player Stats
Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks Match Player Stats – Flagg’s 27 Fuel 130-120 Upset
The numbers from the rematch tell a story of resilience. Within minutes of the final buzzer, the Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks match player stats began circulating online after the Mavericks flipped a 130-120 victory in Cleveland. The result snapped Dallas’ seven‑game skid against Cleveland and marked only their second win in 11 contests, a stunning reversal after losing by 33 points just two days earlier.
Coming into Sunday’s finale at Rocket Arena, the Cavaliers carried the momentum of a blowout victory in Dallas. Many expected another one‑sided affair as Cleveland hunted a season‑sweep over the struggling Mavericks. Instead, Cooper Flagg delivered a career‑defining statement, and a supporting cast of role players out‑worked the home team on both ends.
Teams, Lineup & Game Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Event | Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks |
| Date | March 15, 2026 |
| Venue | Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH |
| Start Time | 3:30 PM EDT |
| Attendance | 19,432 |
| Game Duration | 2:15 (approx) |
| Series Status | Season tied 1‑1 |
| Officials | Brian Forte, Tyler Ford, Jenna Schroeder |
| Final Score | Dallas Mavericks 130 – Cleveland Cavaliers 120 |
A loud crowd of 19,432 witnessed an upset that felt more like a statement of intent from a hungry Dallas squad.
Key Players & Starting Lineups
| Team | Key Scorers | Key Defenders |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Mavericks | Cooper Flagg (27 pts, 10 ast), Naji Marshall (25 pts, 7 ast) | P.J. Washington (5 stl, 1 blk) |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Donovan Mitchell (26 pts, 11 ast), Max Strus (24 pts, 6 3PM) | Evan Mobley (4 blk) |
Quarter‑by‑Quarter Scoring Breakdown
| Period | Dallas Mavericks Pts | Cleveland Cavaliers Pts | Cumulative DAL | Cumulative CLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 35 | 31 | 35 | 31 |
| 2nd | 25 | 28 | 60 | 59 |
| 3rd | 40 | 27 | 100 | 86 |
| 4th | 30 | 34 | 130 | 120 |
The game featured 11 lead changes and 7 ties as the teams traded blows well into the second half before the Mavericks seized control behind a 40‑point third quarter.
The 3rd Period: 40 Runs That Rewrote History
The Mavericks opened the third quarter with a 7‑0 run, burying Cleveland’s one‑point halftime lead. By the seven‑minute mark, Ryan Nembhard connected from deep to push the advantage to 78‑67. When the Cavaliers cut it to single digits, Dallas answered with a decisive 10‑2 spurt that swung the momentum for good. John Poulakidas, a rookie signed just two weeks earlier, erupted for eight points and two rebounds in this frame alone, injecting unexpected firepower off the bench.
| Play | Scoring Event | Score DAL | Score CLE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marshall → Washington | Assist, made jumper | 67‑59 | 59‑59 |
| Flagg steal → Marshall layup | Transition bucket | 72‑61 | 61‑61 |
| Nembhard 3‑pointer | Deep catch‑and‑shoot | 78‑67 | 67‑67 |
| Poulakidas driving layup | Rookie float | 80‑69 | 69‑69 |
| Washington putback | Offensive rebound | 82‑71 | 71‑71 |
Cleveland’s defensive coverage collapsed repeatedly, allowing Dallas’ reserves to feast on mismatches and open looks.
Standout Performances & Player Highlights
| Player | Team | Stats (PTS/REB/AST/FG% | 3P% | FT%) |
|——–|——|———————————————–|
| Cooper Flagg | DAL | 27 PTS, 6 REB, 10 AST, 2 BLK (58.8% FG) |
| Naji Marshall | DAL | 25 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST (66.7% FG, 8‑8 FT) |
| Donovan Mitchell | CLE | 26 PTS, 1 REB, 11 AST, 2 STL |
| Max Strus | CLE | 24 PTS, 8 REB (77.8% FG, 6‑7 3P) |
| P.J. Washington | DAL | 20 PTS, 11 REB, 5 STL, 1 BLK |
Cooper Flagg was the engine, recording his 12th game this season with at least 27 points. He shot 10‑for‑17 from the field and dished out 10 assists while guarding multiple positions. For Cleveland, Max Strus electrified the crowd in his season debut after missing 67 games to a foot fracture, hitting 6‑of‑7 from three‑point range in a wire‑to‑wire display of shooting prowess.
Box Scores: Both Teams at a Glance
Dallas Mavericks – Full Scoring Box Score
| Hitter | Pos | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N. Marshall | F | 32 | 25 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 8‑12 | 1‑1 | 8‑8 |
| C. Flagg | F | 33 | 27 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 10‑17 | 1‑3 | 6‑8 |
| P.J. Washington | F | 33 | 20 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 8‑16 | 3‑4 | 1‑2 |
| M. Christie | G | 29 | 9 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3‑4 | 2‑3 | 1‑1 |
| R. Nembhard | G | 24 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4‑10 | 3‑7 | 0‑0 |
All five Dallas starters scored in double figures, a rarity for a team that had lost eight of its previous ten games.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Full Scoring Box Score
| Hitter | Pos | MIN | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | FG | 3P | FT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Wade | F | 26 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5‑9 | 2‑5 | 0‑0 |
| E. Mobley | F | 36 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 8‑14 | 0‑3 | 2‑5 |
| D. Mitchell | G | 39 | 26 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 10‑24 | 4‑11 | 2‑2 |
| K. Ellis | G | 31 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2‑7 | 1‑5 | 0‑0 |
| J. Harden | G | 38 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 4‑12 | 1‑5 | 4‑5 |
| M. Strus | Bench | 23 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7‑9 | 6‑7 | 4‑4 |
| T. Bryant | Bench | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3‑4 | 2‑3 | 2‑4 |
Despite Evan Mobley posting a double‑double (18 pts, 11 reb, 4 blk) and Max Strus exploding for 24 points on near‑perfect shooting, Cleveland could not overcome 16 costly turnovers that directly created 25 Dallas points.
Defensive Matchup Breakdown
Dallas Mavericks Pitching / Defense
| Player | Decision | MIN | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P.J. Washington | – | 33 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 20 |
| M. Christie | – | 29 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| D. Powell | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The Mavericks’ defensive energy was spearheaded by P.J. Washington’s five steals and physical rim protection, holding Cleveland to 45.2% shooting on two‑point attempts.
Cleveland Cavaliers Pitching / Defense
| Player | Decision | MIN | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PF | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. Mobley | – | 36 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 18 |
| K. Ellis | – | 31 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| D. Schröder | – | 22 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
Evan Mobley anchored the interior with four blocks, but Cleveland’s guards repeatedly lost assignments on the perimeter, allowing Dallas to shoot 15‑for‑30 (50%) from three‑point range.
Key Statistics Comparison Table
| Statistic | Cleveland Cavaliers | Dallas Mavericks |
|---|---|---|
| Final Points | 120 | 130 |
| Field Goal % | 51.1% | 52.9% |
| 3‑Pointers Made | 16‑41 (39.0%) | 15‑30 (50.0%) |
| Free Throw % | 66.7% | 85.2% |
| Total Rebounds | 38 | 44 |
| Offensive Rebounds | 10 | 9 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 12 |
| Points Off Turnovers | 9 | 25 |
| Fast Break Points | 14 | 24 |
| Points In Paint | 52 | 54 |
| Assists | 32 | 35 |
Dallas excelled where it mattered most: converting second‑chance opportunities, capitalising on Cleveland’s sloppy ball‑handling, and consistently knocking down free throws (23‑for‑27).
Quotes & Reactions
Cooper Flagg: “We knew we let one slip Friday. Today was about bouncing back and showing what this team can do when we play together.”
Max Strus: “It felt amazing to be back out there with my guys. I wish we got the win, but personally it was a huge step after everything I’ve been through.”
Donovan Mitchell: “They wanted it more tonight. We’ve got to clean up the turnovers – that’s the story of the game.”
Naji Marshall: “Coach said be aggressive and we did that. Every loose ball, every possession mattered.”
P.J. Washington: “Five steals, double‑double – I just tried to bring the energy. We needed this win badly.”
Match Analysis: What Went Right & Wrong
Cleveland Cavaliers
| Category | Summary |
|---|---|
| What Went Right | Strus provided instant offence; Mobley protected the rim (4 blk) |
| What Went Wrong | 16 turnovers → 25 Dallas points; poor transition defence |
| Offensive Strength | Three‑point shooting (16 makes) |
| Defensive Strength | Interior presence (5 total blocks) |
| Strategy | Pushed pace early but failed to sustain |
Dallas Mavericks
| Category | Summary |
|---|---|
| What Went Right | Flagg’s playmaking (10 ast); Washington’s 5 steals; bench scoring |
| What Went Wrong | Early foul trouble on bigs |
| Offensive Strength | Ball movement (35 assists) |
| Defensive Strength | Forced turnovers, perimeter contests |
| Strategy | Aggressive trapping on Mitchell and Harden |
Controversial moment: With 8 minutes left in the third quarter, officials briefly allowed Dallas to inbound toward the wrong basket after a timeout. Cleveland coach Kenny Atkinson alerted the crew, who corrected the error, but the disruption seemed to further rattle the Cavaliers’ defensive sets.
Series / Season Timeline
| Game | Date | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game 1 (at DAL) | Mar 13, 2026 | Cleveland | 138‑105 |
| Game 2 (at CLE) | Mar 15, 2026 | Dallas | 130‑120 |
The season series ended in a split, but the statistical whiplash – from a 33‑point blowout to a 10‑point road upset – gave Dallas a blueprint for competing against elite Eastern Conference foes.
Where to Watch
- United States: NBA TV, FanDuel Sports Network – Ohio (CLE local), KFAA (DAL local)
- Canada: NBA League Pass, Sportsnet
- International: NBA League Pass (global streaming)
Conclusion
The Cleveland Cavaliers vs Dallas Mavericks match player stats reveal more than just a final score. They highlight a young Mavericks core – led by rookie Cooper Flagg – that refused to fold after a devastating home loss. For the Cavaliers, the numbers expose a chronic vulnerability: 16 turnovers yielding 25 opposition points is a losing formula against any motivated opponent. As both teams eye postseason positioning, this 130‑120 result may prove a turning point – a statistical snapshot of effort, transition execution, and the singular impact of a debutant sniper and a rookie phenom.
FAQs
Q: What was the final score of the March 15, 2026 game between Cleveland and Dallas?
A: The Dallas Mavericks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 130‑120 inside Rocket Arena.
Q: Who led the Mavericks in scoring during that game?
A: Rookie Cooper Flagg scored 27 points on 10‑of‑17 shooting while adding 10 assists and 6 rebounds.
Q: How did Max Strus perform in his season debut?
A: Max Strus exploded for 24 points, hitting 6 of 7 three‑pointers and grabbing 8 rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench.
Q: What was the key statistical difference between the two teams?
A: Turnovers. The Cavaliers committed 16, which the Mavericks turned into 25 points, more than double Cleveland’s 9 points off Dallas’ 12 turnovers.
Q: How many lead changes occurred in the first half?
A: There were 11 lead changes and seven ties before Dallas took a 60–59 edge into the locker room.
Q: Who was the most efficient scorer on the floor?
A: Naji Marshall shot a perfect 8‑for‑8 from the free‑throw line and 8‑for‑12 from the field, recording an 80.5% true shooting percentage.
Q: Did this game affect the season series between these two teams?
A: Yes. The split evened the season series 1‑1, ending Cleveland’s seven‑game winning streak against Dallas.
About the Author
