Strus Sparks Cavaliers in First Game Back; Central Division Roundup
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Cleveland forward Max Strus returned from a broken left foot on Sunday and poured in 24 points, but the Cavaliers fell to the Mavericks. The 27-year-old hit 7-of-9 shots overall and 6-of-7 from three-point range in 23 minutes off the bench. “I’m proud of myself, yes, but at the end of the day we didn’t win the game,” Strus said after the loss in Dallas.
Strus sustained a Jones fracture while training last summer and underwent surgery in late August. The original three-to-four-month timeline stretched into March, yet head coach Kenny Atkinson expects his minutes to rise during the season’s final four weeks. “It’s good timing and will be a boost for the team,” Atkinson noted.
Cavaliers: Mobley Weighs Up-and-Down Season
Following Cleveland’s win in Dallas on Friday, forward Evan Mobley acknowledged frustration with his performance. “You always have high standards for yourself. I wanted to come out and dominate this year,” he said, citing injuries and other setbacks. “We’re still in a good spot right now—just got to keep stacking days.”
Bucks: Giannis Held Out as Precaution
Giannis Antetokounmpo appeared to hyperextend his left knee Sunday against Indiana and lobbied to re-enter the game, but Milwaukee’s medical staff refused with the Bucks holding a double-digit lead. “I felt like I could finish the game, but the training staff thought it wasn’t smart,” the two-time MVP explained.
Pacers: Turner on Zubac’s Fit
Former Pacer Myles Turner, now with Milwaukee, was asked how new Indiana center Ivica Zubac meshes with coach Rick Carlisle’s offense after just three games. Turner noted the club’s injury issues and limited sample size: “With Tyrese (Haliburton), he needs space to operate and I was able to stretch the floor for him. It’s a little different with Zu … he’s more of a low-post kind of guy.”
Source: Hoops Rumors
