CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives to the basket during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 14, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers came into Saturday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks with its top six players out with injuries: two knees, two hamstrings, one calf, and one big toe.
Not the ideal way to take on a team led by Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg, but don’t tell that to Tyrese Proctor.
Proctor, a former Duke star like Irving and Flagg, had his best game since joining the league last year, racking up 24 points on 10-19 from the floor, pulling down 11 rebounds, passing out 10 assists, and leading Cleveland to a 127-117 win over the Mavs.
It was a tremendous performance by the second-year guard. Here are some complete highlights. He’ll have a tough time pushing past Donovan Mitchell when he gets back, but James Harden is 37 now, and he quit playing defense years ago.
A few more games like this, and Proctor will have an argument for putting him in the starting lineup.
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Kyrie Irving #11 of the Dallas Mavericks interacts with the crowd before the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 14, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
CLEVELAND — Robert Frost said, “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”
There was a time when Cleveland Cavaliers fans weren’t eager to take Kyrie Irving in. His trade demands in the summer of 2017 derailed the franchise’s best era of basketball. But time heals all wounds. Irving will always have a home in Cleveland — that’s what delivering a championship ensures you.
“You know, 52 years is a long, long period of time waiting for a championship, and we did it,” Irving said after Dallas Mavericks127-117 loss to Cleveland on Saturday. “And I think that’s one of the hardest championships — I think. I’m not gonna say it is, I said I think personally it’s one of the hardest championships ever in NBA history that we got to accomplish.”
It’s also a championship the city is still celebrating. On Saturday, the Cavs recognized the 10th anniversary of the 2016 championship by bringing out former general manager David Griffin to pull out the sword at the start of the game. They also played a video tribute commemorating Irving’s championship-clinching shot in Game 7, which brought the crowd to its feet.
Kyrie Irving received his second loud ovation of the night after the Cavs played a tribute video celebrating the 2016 championship. pic.twitter.com/fqA6wFDv4K
“This one felt a lot different than the other times,” Irving said of the reception. “This time I got to really settle in, really ground myself, and embrace the support that’s here for me.”
Irving’s time in Cleveland was far from straightforward — he detailed how when asked about it on Saturday.
His rookie season came during the lockout that lasted until December. This meant that he couldn’t communicate with anyone on the coaching staff or front office. “So my first entry into here was a little awkward.”
Things didn’t get easier after that. The criticism he received when the Cavs initially fell short of expectations is something he still carries.
“When they’re discussing my career,” Irving said, “everybody likes to gear towards my first three years in the league, and like to put, ‘He’s not a winner. He didn’t win anything. He didn’t do anything without Bron (LeBron James). He didn’t do anything without the players we ended up winning a championship with,’ which I think is all a good and fair criticism, but I think as I look at it, it was just me learning.”
The idea that a 21-year-old guard could single-handedly turn around a team that frankly wasn’t very talented was unreasonable at the time, and looks even more absurd in retrospect.
James’s return in 2014 didn’t lighten the burden. The expectations, externally and internally, only grew. Irving admitted that this led to tough conversations with his teammates. “You don’t go home happy all the time even when you’re winning, because you feel like you can still continue to get better.”
“What I remember most is that championship was so tough.”
The championship season was a difficult one for Irving. He fractured his kneecap during Game 1 of the 2015 Finals, which kept him out until December of the following season. And when he did come back, he thought he wasn’t playing to his standards. “It felt like there was a lot of pressure on me to perform well.”
This was a theme for him and that team throughout a turbulent 2016 season that saw them switch coaches from David Blatt to Ty Lue halfway through.
“It’s all on me at times, or it’s all on Bron, or it’s all on somebody else, K Love,” Irving said. “It’s like the blame game got split between us three, but it usually came between Bron and me. It just prepared me. You gotta be an MFer in this league. You gotta have short-term memory.”
Those difficult times paid off in the championship. The 3-1 comeback was made possible by three of the best individual performances by him and James — culminating in Irving’s shot to decide Game 7.
“When I look at it now, I’m just grateful that I was playing against the best of the best, going against the best teams in the world, getting everybody’s best shot for about three straight years,” Irving said. “A lot of young players never get to experience that, being on the hunt for championships every single year. I take those little moments and try my best to connect it to the fans here, because we couldn’t have done it without them.”
It’s been a decade since the championship and nine years since Irving last wore a Cavs jersey, yet, the bond between the player and city may be stronger now than ever. Saturday’s reception, and what it meant to Irving, is proof of that.
“It’s been 10 years. It’s been a great reflection point for me to be able to come back and be able to receive that support in a different way,” Irving said. “I’m so grateful for all the Cavs fans, Cleveland in general, Ohio, wrapping their arms around me as well, and also sticking it through with me as I was a young person.”
There were only a handful of people waiting for Irving after he filed out of the Mavs media interview room an hour and a half after the game ended. One of them politely thanked Irving for 2016 and all that it meant to them.
Irving graciously looked down at them with a wide smile and said, “We’re champions forever.”
PHOENIX, AZ - NOVEMBER 9: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns on November 9, 2026 at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Utah Jazz have responded to the hype they got in the off season by winning one of their first 13 games. Injuries to their two best players have a lot to do with that, but they’ve been playing predictably and are struggling to make outside shots. Being small with four perimeter players and a big with no offensive bag has made it harder to bend opposing defenses, as a result, ensuring that they stay in a transition game more than they like.
Still, it would be unwise to think they will roll over quickly. Flawed as they are, they can creep back in through the door if the San Antonio Spurs are playing with their food. Even if a team has a basement record, sometimes they show up stronger than the numbers because they are desperate to get back in the win column.
The Spurs will head into Delta Center on an 11-game win streak, tied for their sixth-longest in franchise history. The streak is long enough that every team in the NBA is well aware, adding a higher level of intrigue to the game. This will be the third matchup between these teams this season.
San Antonio Spurs (11-2) vs Utah Jazz (1-2)
Nov. 15, 2026: 4PM CT
Watch: DAZN: Listen WOAI (1200 AM)
Spurs Injuries: Tobias Harris — out (left calf strain); Jayden Quaintance — out (right knee surgery); Maliq Brown — out (G League); Ja’Kobi Gillespie — out (G League)
Jazz Injuries: Lauri Markkanen — out (right hand fracture); Jaren Jackson Jr. — out (right knee); Jaxson Hayes — out (left knee strain); Jusuf Nurkić — out (right foot); Trey Alexander — out (G League); Kobe Bufkin — out (G League); Harrison Ingram — out (G League).
What to watch for
Darryn Peterson is a rookie, and he has the goods. He’s elusive on the dribble, mostly getting to work through screen rolls, with his preferred spots being the paint non-restricted area and at mid-range. He and Keyonte George should carry the bulk of the scoring load, so the Spurs will have to stay on their hips, and try to force them to attack going left, which is the off-hand of both players.
The Spurs starting lineup ties for the fifth-most used in the NBA, and it has been the most-efficient high-usage rotation, logging an impressive 84.6 defensive rating. It shouldn’t be a surprise if this lineup is the one creating the most separation on the scoreboard since it has the most down-hill attackers who can quickly turn a miss into transition.
Even if the Spurs’ transition numbers (55.2 percentile) aren’t the best, they get out in open court so much that it wears out the opponents.
Victor Wembanyama is averaging 24 points, 12.5 rebounds and five assists in two games versus the Jazz this season, while making 78.6 of his shots within 10 feet. He may be in for a 40-point night since he will have some energy saved up from not having to go hard guarding his man, which could be Mo Bamba and some smaller players.
Julian Champagnie’s role has changed a bit as a reserve this season, but his impact has been greater, being a top-notch release valve logging career high in efficiency by a significant margin (66.0 EFG percentage). He is averaging 42.2 percent from 3-point range for the year, and 44.4 percent against the Jazz. Notably, Champagnie is a feature in the third-most used Spurs’ lineup, which is him with the starters in Devin Vassell’s place. Expect Jazz defenders to lock-and-trail well when he changes spots in the half-court, but the schemes will be programmed to take away the on-ball threats. Champagnie will have the chance to feast because of that.
Since the level of competition is lower level, perhaps this is a game in which Carter Bryant will shine. His career high was 17 points last year, and even with his struggles this season, that number is beatable since the Jazz can’t guard a parked car.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 04: Head coach Jordi Fernandez of the Brooklyn Nets looks on during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Barclays Center on November 04, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Nets won 114-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images
“They played harder than us.”
Those are words you never want to hear from the head coach of a rebuilding team. Especially not in Year 3.
The Brooklyn Nets had a chance to build on their blowout win over New Orleans. Mikel Brown Jr. was back after missing the last two games. There was a small window to finally pick up some momentum. Instead, they followed it up with another frustrating loss, 129-110, in the finale of a four-game road-trip.
Brooklyn fell behind early and trailed 38-23 after the first quarter. You’d never think Memphis played a game just the night before.
The Nets struggled to contain Memphis from the perimeter and committed 16 turnovers that led to 30 Grizzlies points. They made a push in the third quarter and cut a 23-point deficit to eight, but couldn’t get the stops necessary to make it a game.
“I think we cut it to seven at some point and you should have been in the game, but we are not mature enough… we played against a team that played in a second of a back-to-back with the same travel that we had, and they played the right way, played really hard and we’re not there yet. So, you know, go back and work and find ways to get better, because when you’re not consistent and you don’t find those ways, it’s just like that’s not what we want to do here,” Fernandez said after the game.
The Nets briefly led 7-5, but Memphis responded with a 9-0 run and never let up control. Cedric Coward, Cam Spencer and Jaylen Wells got hot early, and a Wells’ three-pointer forced a Brooklyn timeout with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter, with the Grizzlies flipping the score to 16-9 in their own favor.
The shooting didn’t slow down. Memphis made nine three-pointers in the opening quarter and carried a 38-23 lead into the second. Brooklyn faced a 19-point deficit in the first half before making a small dent in it. The Grizzlies still led 71-54 at halftime.
“Right now the two practices we’ve had, we’ve practiced very well. So we practice better than we play, which is not a terrible sign. It’s a frustrating sign because you believe you’re better, but all we can do is go back to work.”
Julius Randle said Brooklyn didn’t match Memphis’ urgency from the opening tip. The three-time All-Star pointed to the team’s overall start as a bigger issue.
“We didn’t punch first. We didn’t come out with a sense of urgency, and they took advantage of that,” he said.
What’s the issue?
“Just organization. I think maybe just trying too hard, playing a little unorganized, stuff like that,” Randle said. “And then just attention to detail, you know, just think we got a lapse of focus sometimes.”
Sparked by scoring from Noah Clowney, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Julius Randle, Brooklyn put together a strong third-quarter surge to cut the deficit to 85-77 with 5:12 remaining. Memphis took a 103-84 lead into the fourth quarter and eventually stretched the margin beyond 20.
It was Brooklyn’s fifth loss by double figures.
“They got to grow fast,” Fernandez said about the young group. “You know, like being 20 is not an excuse.…. I’m frustrated or I get mad because I know they’re very good and they’re better than this. And when I just don’t see a connected group is, it hurts…”
Michael Porter Jr.’s Absence
Michael Porter Jr. attended Saturday’s game after missing time for personal reasons. Fernández was asked about Porter’s absence and whether he knew when the forward might return, but the coach declined.
“No, we want to give him his privacy. Everything, it’s fine. So, we’re happy that he was here,” Fernández said.
Keeping up with Mr. Brown
Mikel Brown Jr. returned after missing the last two games. It’s been a bit of a strange start and the guard missed the last two games for two different reasons — one for injury management and the other for an illness. The rookie finished with six points and two assists on 2-of-5 shooting in 20 minutes.
After the game, his father pointed out the importance of the floor general. Take it for whatever it’s worth.
PG position is the most disrespected position in Sports.
Brooklyn’s trip to Memphis didn’t go according to plan. The Nets were caught in Friday night’s FAA ground stop after boarding their charter flight out of New Orleans, forcing the team to stay overnight before finally flying out Saturday morning.
The team arrived in Memphis around 11 a.m., just hours before its game against the Grizzlies. The unexpected delay also forced Brooklyn to scrap its planned morning shootaround.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously it was something that we couldn’t control,” head coach Jordi Fernández said. “And to be honest with you, it was not that bad. We had good rest and got here [Saturday] morning and did our walkthrough, and probably [would have] gone to the gym, but we were not able to. And I think we feel good and ready to go.”
Fernández acknowledged that the altered schedule wasn’t ideal, particularly for players who had grown accustomed to the team’s usual pregame routine.
“Everybody’s safe. It’s the most important thing,” he said.
Next Up: Philadelphia 76ers
The Nets are back home against the 76ers on Monday, November 16.
Porter wasn’t injured but was a healthy scratch for personal reasons.
Michael Porter Jr. (17) of the Brooklyn Nets shoots against the Atlanta Hawks during a game at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. NBAE via Getty Images
Two sources — one a team source and another close to the player — said the issue was believed to be resolved and Porter shouldn’t miss extended time.
When asked if he had a timeline for Porter’s return, Nets coach Jordi Fernández said, “No. We want to give him his privacy. Everything is fine, so we’re happy that he was here.”
Initially listed as questionable, Porter was ruled out an hour before tipoff.
“A personal situation came up as we were coming to the arena. So that’s why it was announced late,” Fernández said.
Porter is averaging a team-high 21.5 points on 45.6 percent shooting and 37.5 percent from deep. An Eastern Conference scout who spoke with The Post pointed out how easy the Nets are to defend without his unblockable shot. Julius Randle — Brooklyn’s other proven veteran scorer — said others simply have to pick up the slack.
“Everybody has to step in and chip in. It’s not just one person,” Randle said. “So we’ve all got to step up and chip in and do it collectively as a unit.”
Day’Ron Sharpe (16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists) had his third double-double of the season already. His career high is six in 2023-24.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez gestures from the sideline in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn. AP Photo/Brandon Dill
Fernández handed Noah Clowney the start at small forward for Porter. With Randle, Sharpe, Egor Dëmin and Danny Wolf, every Nets starter was at least 6-foot-9 or taller, just as they had been in the blowout win in New Orleans three nights earlier.
This was the first time any NBA team had started a lineup of players all 6-foot-9 or taller since the Los Angeles Lakers had done so April 21, 1990.
Mikel Brown Jr. and Nolan Traore both returned after having missed the blowout win in New Orleans three nights earlier. It marked just the third game that the Nets have had Dëmin, Brown and Traore together.
Fernández said Brown is still on his minutes limit. With Wolf still starting at two-guard, Brown and Traore logged just 19 minutes each.
The Nets got thrown into travel chaos Friday by the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ground every flight nationwide for four hours. They were already set to board their flight but had to stay overnight in New Orleans and fly to Memphis at 9 a.m.
“Yeah, obviously it was something that we couldn’t control,” Fernández said. “And to be honest with you, it was not that bad. We had good rest and got here [Saturday] morning and did our walk-through, and probably [would have] gone to the gym, but we were not able to. And I think we feel good and ready to go.”
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 14: Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots the ball during the game against the Dallas Mavericks on November 14, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Dallas Mavericks behind an awesome game from their young guards.
Grades are based on our usual expectations for each player.
Player of the game
Tyrese Proctor
24 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists
Proctor is in full swing of a sophomore breakout right now. He’s put together a strong week of games, culminating in this prime opportunity to prove that he can scale his usage up into a larger role.
He impacted every facet of the game, lifting Cleveland’s offense with his shot creation and providing support on defense at the point of attack.
The Cavs have found something here. Proctor’s development isn’t something they can overlook.
Grade: A+++
Grades
Meleek Thomas
20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists
Thomas has been the winner of the young Cavs’ season. He’s stood out in almost every game he’s appeared in, and he did not disappoint tonight in his largest role to date. His shot-making, which includes an unstoppable-looking floater, was on full display as he helped energize the Cavs to a big win.
Grade: A-
Mario Hezonja
22 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Hezonja hasn’t been able to earn many minutes in previous games but was given the green light tonight out of necessity. I’d say he made the most of that opportunity, complementing every lineup he was in and providing a sense of stability. He can still be a bit dicey when defending off-ball actions, but Hezonja would be getting more minutes if it were up to me.
Mario shot 9-of-12 from the floor and hit all of the key momentum shots for Cleveland.
Grade: A+
Jaylon Tyson
18 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists
Tyson was given all the room he needed to get comfortable tonight. He didn’t have to worry about filling a role as he normally would. Instead, being granted the freedom to create for himself and serve as a dynamic offensive threat. That helped him turn in his best offensive game of the season.
Grade: A-
Thomas Bryant
19 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists
Bryant, a veteran leader on this team, suited up in the starting lineup despite playing 16 minutes the night before in Miami. There was no rest for TB as he worked harder than anyone else on the court to make sure this team had a big man anchoring the paint on both ends of the floor.
Well done, Bryant.
Grade: A
Norchad Omier
13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists
Omier was the definition of heart and hustle tonight as he used his bulky frame to bang in the paint and grab rebounds. I don’t know what the ceiling is for a player like Omier, but he’s certainly helpful in setting a tone on a night like tonight.
Grade: A-
Craig Porter Jr.
9 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 turnovers
Porter threw some highly questionable passes in this game and turned it over more than you’d like. Other than that, he had some impressive finishes around the rim and was mostly a positive.
Grade: B
Riley Minix
2 points (1-6 shooting)
Minix is back to not fitting in with this Cavs team. He simply hasn’t been able to shoot the ball efficiently, and he’s not a good enough defender to make up for it.
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Sacramento Kings reacts after making a basket against the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center on October 24, 2025 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Utah Jazz are in the midst of the worst start in decades. It’s an even worse start than the former tanking seasons. Before the season started, the Jazz said they would have a competitive season. And even though the Jazz are close in a lot of these games, they are 1-12 and on an 11-game losing streak. With the Walker Kessler trade behind them, the Jazz are left with a lopsided team in desperate need of starting center play that could support their three young stars: Darryn Peterson, Ace Bailey, and Keyonte George.
That group this season has been elite, hiding behind subpar play from their center and bench. From CraftedNBA.com, here are the Jazz’s best players sorted by net rating and showing their best On-Off players.
Utah’s trio of Bailey, Peterson, and George is playing winning basketball, and it’s an incredible sign for Utah. But outside of those three, it’s not looking good. Losing Jaren Jackson Jr. at the beginning of the season has been brutal because his two-way play would have been a huge part of helping Utah get some wins.
Probably the biggest disappointment, though, is Lauri Markkanen’s play this season. His off-ball offensive game is high-level as usual, the problem is everything else. He’s not producing on the ball, and he has not been a good defender. That’s why Utah should consider a potential move for Domantas Sabonis, who wants out of Sacramento. The trade is an easy, player-for-player trade with Lauri Markkanen.
Lauri Markkanen for Domantas Sabonis
I’ve thought about this a lot this season, and the more I think about it, the more I like it. Yes, Sabonis has some flaws just like Markkanen does. He’s undersized at his position and not a good rim protector. He also struggles in space and on the perimeter defensively, just like Markkanen.
But Sabonis’ pros would be huge for this Jazz team and their young COR3, and could provide a skill set that would take them to another level. Yes, Markkanen provides catch-and-shoot threes and cuts to the basket. Utah is getting enough shooting, scoring, and cutting from that young trio. What Utah lacks right now is a starting center. Sabonis would bring what they’ve been dying for all season, including elite rebounding, screening, passing, and inside scoring. Adding Sabonis would solidify the position in a way that they haven’t had all season. Yes, the Jazz can simply wait for Jusuf Nurkic to come back, but with Nurkic’s size and his foot injury, it’s not a given that he’ll stay healthy this season. Also, having Nurkic come back and play 20-25 minutes a night off the bench is best anyway.
Sabonis is also a perfect fit with what Will Hardy does on offense. He can get the ball and run a dribble handoff from the three-point line, then dive, or run simple pick-and-rolls as the screener. With Sabonis setting screens and scoring inside, you can see how Utah’s offense could get to an elite level. It’s also interesting to think about how well Ace Bailey would fit playing off of him. Sabonis is no Jokic, but he’s the next best thing at center, hitting cutters and passing out of the short roll to open shooters. And finally, Sabonis can score inside on a mismatch. If Utah has a mismatch down low, Sabonis can easily take advantage. And when Jaren Jackson Jr. comes back, Sabonis is the perfect fit next to him, with their strengths offsetting each other. Jackson can be the weak-side defender while Sabonis cleans up their rebounding issues.
There’s also an elephant in the room for the Jazz right now that needs to be recognized. Lauri Markkanen has simply not lived up to his superstar-level contract. With a move like this, Utah can get off his contract before it becomes untradable. Sabonis’ contract is for this season and next, so if we’re simply looking at contract relief, it’s another bonus for Utah. If Markkanen is also a consistent injury risk and not an elite on-ball scorer over the next three seasons, his contract becomes an albatross with two years after this season and the final year coming in at $53M. Utah can get off that contract sooner rather than later by making this happen. Sabonis’ contract runs through this season and next, and then Utah can either extend him or look for another option that fits the timeline of Keyonte George, Darryn Peterson, and Ace Bailey.
For Sacramento, Lauri Markkanen is the perfect fit for Darius Acuff Jr. Acuff can be the hub of everything they do, and Markkanen can do what he does best next to him: take catch-and-shoot threes and score off the ball. Markkanen also provides more spacing for Acuff, which can help him take his game to another level.
Honestly, this one makes a ton of sense for both sides. Most likely, no picks trade sides in this, and Utah can then use their picks from the Kessler trade in other ways, or just simply draft a center prospect for the post-Sabonis era.
Nov 14, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Tyrese Proctor (24) reacts in the third quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Cavaliers all but punted this game after not getting back from Miami until late this morning. They rested four of the five starters from last night’s game (Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Jarrett Allen, Peyton Watson) rather than risk injury on the second night of a back-to-back. Yet sometimes, the receiving team muffs the punt.
The Dallas Mavericks — who weren’t resting their starters — took their eye off the ball. Cleveland took advantage, led by a triple-double from Tyrese Proctor to ruin Kyrie Irving’s homecoming and defeat Dallas127-117.
Proctor has been a revelation over the last week. He backed up an impressive performance in Miami — albeit in a supporting role — with a dominant on-ball showing against the Mavericks.
This was a different outing than what we’ve seen from Proctor in the past. Instead of being mostly an off-ball shooter, he thrived at creating his own shots. Only one of his 10 field goals was assisted. This included going 5-for-8 on off-the-dribble jumpers.
Scoring wasn’t the only thing Proctor provided. He was the primary initiator of the offense, as evidenced by his 10 assists. Some of these led to direct baskets at the rim for Thomas Bryant (19 points and 11 rebounds) out of the pick-and-roll. Overall, six of his assists went to baskets at the rim. He also sprayed the ball to outside shooters and swung the ball on the perimeter, leading to three assists on triples.
Proctor also helped as a defender and rebounder. Kenny Atkinson often talks about how the guards need to be adequate rebounders as well. Proctor was that in a complete all-around performance.
This season, Proctor has been asked to fit into a very specific role. He’s done that well, but nights like this show that he’s capable of more.
Irving’s 20 second-quarter points got the Mavs back into this game. He still can be a one-man offense for extended stretches and completely take over games. This was another impressive scoring performance from someone who’s had more than his fair share in this building.
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Third star: Mario Hezonja
22 points on 9-of-12 shooting, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Hezonja made a strong argument for why he deserves more minutes than he’s been getting in recent games. He forced mismatches offensively, and then read how the defense was going to react and consistently made the right play out of it. Hozonja processes the game at such a high level. This elevates the basketball IQ for units he’s on the court with.
Back-to-backs are difficult, especially when travel plans are thrown off as drastically as they were around the country yesterday. It makes sense to err on the side of caution in a situation like this. What’s the point of risking an injury for a game that will matter very little in the spring? At the same time, saying that the game should be canceled because of an inconvenience like this is a bad look.
On top of that, the Cavs played some of their most inspiring basketball of the early season on Saturday night without six of the top eight players in their rotation. That is good for the guys who played, but a clear indictment on those who didn’t.
Atkinson was asked about rebounding before the game since it’s been a consistent issue with the starting group. He gave a long-winded answer that could’ve been summed up by saying there’s only so much coaching can do. “I always tell the coaches, it’s 50% on us. It’s got to transfer — the message has to get through.”
This message, and many others about how they want to play basketball on both ends, is getting through — just not to the guys who will ultimately determine wins and losses in the spring.
Cavalier who deserves a shoutout
Norchad Omier
13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal
Omier made the most of his first real rotation minutes for the Cavs. He was impactful offensively with his ability to finish inside and hit a corner three as well. Defensively, he used his wide frame to play backup five when Bryant wasn’t out there.
The Cavs won the minutes Omier played by 11. Getting quality play like this from a two-way big went a long way toward stealing the victory.
Play of the game
Kyrie Irving received his second loud ovation of the night after the Cavs played a tribute video celebrating the 2016 championship. pic.twitter.com/fqA6wFDv4K
Irving received a loud ovation when he was introduced as a starter, and an even louder one when they played a video tribute for his contribution to the 2016 championship team.
Quote of the day
“You know, 52 years is a long, long period of time waiting for a championship, and we did it. And I think that’s one of the hardest championships — I think. I’m not gonna say it is, I said I think personally it’s one of the hardest championships ever in NBA history that we got to accomplish.”
The Cavaliers who were available on Saturday showed that they’re capable of hearing the message from the coaching staff and applying it on the court.
Main takeaway from this game: The Cavs have some encouraging young players
I wrote about this in yesterday’s deep dive from the Miami Heat loss: The Cavs have quietly turned over their supporting cast. Their younger bench players are far more versatile than the specialists we’ve seen in previous seasons.
The trio of Tyrese Proctor, Meleek Thomas, and Jaylon Tyson have very defined roles when the starters are out there. They’ve mostly performed well in those situations and have shown glimpses of being able to do more. On Saturday, they proved that they can scale their games up when called upon.
Cleveland needed that trio to be the offensive initiators given who was out, and they did that. The ball was moving quickly around the perimeter, with each being able to attack off the dribble when needed. This resulted in the trio all scoring 18 points or more against a Mavs team actually playing their starters.
This performance on its own doesn’t necessarily mean much. It’s not uncommon to see NBA teams let up and lose when their opponent is missing half of their rotation. However, this game didn’t just come out of the blue; it was a continuation of what we’ve been seeing pretty consistently for the last week or so — specifically from Proctor and Thomas.
The Cavs are at a weird crossroads. How they’ve been playing with their star players has led to inconsistent results. We’ve seen some high highs, but some even lower lows. Something needs to change if they’re going to reach the heights they have the potential to.
Surrendering the reins to the young players isn’t the answer to their problems. But turning to the style of play that this group has embraced — and the one that all the Cavs did during the 2024-25 season — could be a solution. Just not one we’ve seen the veterans truly get on board with yet. Maybe this win changes some minds.
MIAMI — Giannis Antetokounmpo had 34 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists, some of the spectacular variety, and the Miami Heat beat the Detroit Pistons 137-117 on Saturday night for their fourth straight win.
Klay Thompson scored 26 points in his return from a sprained ankle and Bam Adebayo added 20 for the Heat. Davion Mitchell had 15 points and nine rebounds for Miami.
Cade Cunningham had 33 points and eight assists for Detroit, which got 20 points and seven assists from Kevin Huerter.
Miami had nine players record at least one block and finished with 14 as a team — one shy of the franchise record.
The NBA record for players on the same team having at least one block in a game is 10, done twice — both by Golden State, first in 1991 and then again in 2016. The Heat team record for players with at least one block was eight, done on five occasions.
Antetokounmpo finished a weekend where he scored 71 points in a two-day span, after finishing with 37 in Miami’s win over Cleveland on Friday night. He also had a through-the-legs assist to Thompson for a 3-pointer in the opening quarter.
It was one of six 3s on the night for Thompson, who is now 26 away from tying former Heat guard Ray Allen (2,973) for the third-most 3-pointers in NBA history.
Miami won for the seventh time in its last nine games and became the fourth team in the last 25 seasons to start 0-4 but rally to a winning record at the 13-game mark. Sacramento (7-6) did it in 2022-23, Oklahoma City (8-5) did it in 2018-19 and Dallas (9-4) did it in 2006-07.
It also matched the best nine-game stretch for the Heat since an 8-1 burst in November 2023.
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 02: Tari Eason #17 of the Houston Rockets drives to the basket against Sharife Cooper #13 of the Washington Wizards during the first half at Capital One Arena on March 2, 2026 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Well, we all called it. The Houston Rockets struggled to put away the 1-11 Utah Jazz. Who could have seen this coming? (All of us. All of us saw it coming.)
Thankfully, Houston picked up the win. Now they head to the nation’s capital to take on the new-look Washington Wizards and begin a four-game road trip. Xiane has mentioned that last season’s schedule really hurt Houston and the road-heavy start and middle was not made up for by the home-heavy end of the season, by which point the Rockets had already checked out and forgotten how to shoot.
The Wizards are 4-9 and coming off a tough 2OT loss to the Detroit Pistons. A Trae Young buzzer beater got them to OT, where they raced out to a quick 7-point lead. Then that was that. They’ve had two days off to recover and should not be taken lightly. Of course, this Houston team is likely to take them lightly.
It’s early in the season, so Anthony Davis is healthy. It’ll be more of a test than the Jazz were able to throw at Alperen Sengun. The rest of Atlanta’s starting lineup consists of Young, Kyshawn George, Alex Sarr, and #1 overall pick AJ Dybansta. To round out the rotation, they have Bub Carrington, Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, and Deandre Ayton.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 10: Jake LaRavia #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers splits the defense of Dillon Brooks #3 and Jamaree Bouyea #17 of the Phoenix Suns during the second half of a game at Crypto.com Arena on April 10, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Lakers (11-2) conclude their road trip in Phoenix where they will take on the Suns (5-6) on Sunday. It’s the first head-to-head matchup of the season between Pacific Division foes.
Start time and TV schedule
Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns
When: 1 p.m. PT, Nov. 15
Where: Mortgage Matchup Center
Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet
The first matchup between the Lakers and Suns will feature two teams coming in with lots of momentum. Los Angeles has won seven straight games while Phoenix caught fire last week by nabbing four of their last five.
The Suns also have their superstar firepower in Devin Booker, who is playing very well as of late and is averaging 25.5. points, 2.5 rebounds and five assists per game this season. His matchup against long-time rival Luka Dončić — who is obviously playing out of this world right now — will take center stage.
Unfortunately, Austin Reaves will not be able to join Dončić since he’s recovering from a heel bruise. This then presents another challenge for the Lakers in how to navigate without their second-best player for the time being.
For the Lakers to come away with a win, they’ll need to do a few things to keep the Suns in check.
Let Dončić cook Booker
There’s no doubt that Luka is the best player on either team in this matchup but the pressure on him increases with Austin out of the lineup. While Dončić will shoulder much of the offensive load, the Lakers’ defense will need to step up in containing Booker. That’s where Matisse Thybulle, Quentin Grimes and even Colin Sexton come in. The goal is to make sure Booker doesn’t get into rhythm the way he has over the last few games.
Expose the Suns’ flaws
You’d think that there is no worse rebounding team than the Lakers, but the Suns rank dead last in the league in the category. One reason Phoenix struggles on the boards is its lack of frontcourt size, and that’s an area Walker Kessler needs to exploit. The Suns counter by attempting to win the 50-50 balls and forcing turnovers, which the Lakers need to do a better job of.
Note that Phoenix also has the 26th-best defense in the league, so it’ll be ideal for the Lakers’ offense to overwhelm the Suns right off the bat. Hopefully the Lakers’ supporting cast and bench can outplay the likes of Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Luke Kennard, among others.
Don’t let the Suns get hot
Given their defensive shortcomings, the Suns’ best path to winning games is often to simply outshoot their opponents. While it’s difficult to account for an unusually hot shooting game, the Lakers’ defense must make sure the Suns don’t get comfortable and find their rhythm. The Lakers’ defense can’t be nonexistent in this one.
Hopefully, much like their victory over the Hawks without Reaves, the Lakers can control the pace and dictate the momentum throughout this game. It won’t be a walk in the park but the Lakers have shown that they’re a team that can overcome obstacles. Let’s see if they can do that and extend their winning streak to eight on Sunday.
Notes and Updates
For the Lakers’ injury report, Reaves (left heel bruise) and Cameron Carr (illness) are out.
Bronny James (illness), Adou Thiero (left ankle sprain) and Colin Sexton (right orbital laceration) is questionable.
As for the Suns, Mark Williams (left shoulder surgery) is out.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - NOVEMBER 14: P.J. Washington #25 of the Dallas Mavericks shoots against Tyrese Proctor #24 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Arena on November 14, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The Dallas Mavericks (7-6) turned in a second straight pitiful performance on Saturday, dropping a 127-117 decision to the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-7) at Rocket Arena.Kyrie Irving led all scorers with 34 points on seven made 3-pointers, but no one rode shotgun with him as the Mavericks gave away a winnable game with a putrid second quarter.
Four of the five Cavaliers’ regular starters sat with injuries on the second night of a back-to-back set, after travel difficulties related to the temporary ground stop at all U.S. airports beset the team coming back home from its game at the Miami Heat on Thursday. Various injuries were listed on the Cavs’ injury report, but the travel difficulties were what really tipped the scales of availability.
Saturday’s matchup appeared to offer Cooper Flagg and Kyrie Irving a get-right opportunity after an off night in Thursday’s 133-94 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves. But that’s not what happened, of course. Let’s see what the numbers tell us.
9: Caleb Martin first-quarter points
An unlikely early scoring leader emerged for the Mavericks against the Cavs on Saturday. Caleb Martin paced Dallas with nine points through the first quarter on 4-of-4 shooting, including his only 3-point attempt of the opening frame.
Martin got into the passing lane on a bad pass from Thomas Bryant with 2:25 left in the first, and ran ahead for a dunk to put the Mavs in front, 22-20. He scored his first seven points in the first 4:35 of the game.
But as you may suspect, Martin’s emergence as the team’s leading scorer early on was not necessarily a harbinger of good things to come for Dallas. After battling to a 33-33 tie at the end of one with an injury-riddled version of the Cavaliers, Dallas started to wobble even more in the second.
38-20: Cleveland’s second-quarter ass kicking
The Dallas defense was nonexistent in the second quarter, and things weren’t going much better on the offensive end either. The Mavericks surrendered 38 points to a beleaguered Cavaliers team featuring big performances from the likes of Bryant (14 points, six rebounds in first half), rookie second-rounder Meleek Thomas (13 first-half points, 3-of-6 from 3-point range) and Tyrese Proctor (13 and six).
Meanwhile, Flagg and Irving combined to shoot 4-of-18 in the first half, scoring just 14 points between them. That continued a disturbing trend from Thursday’s lopsided loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves, when the duo scored just 22 points between them.
The Cavs turned a 33-33 tie after one quarter into a rout by shooting better than 56% from the field in the first half and took a gaudy 71-53 lead into the halftime break.
4: Third-quarter 3-pointers from Kyrie Irving
The Mavericks needed someone to step up in the worst way if they were going to trim the Cleveland lead to somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 points going into the fourth quarter. Enter Irving, finally.
He made 7-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-8 from 3-point land out of halftime as the Mavericks made two separate runs at the Cavs’ lead in the third. His third of the third pulled the Mavs to within 95-83 with 2:46 left in the frame. He hit a 28-footer less than a minute later to make it 97-88, giving Irving 17 points in the quarter, but the no-name Cavs had an answer every time.
Mario Hezonja, apparently playing the role of Croatian Kobe Bryant, scored 12 of his own in the third on a pair of made 3-pointers for Cleveland. After the dust settled in a back-and-forth third quarter, the Mavs were still down by 14, 105-91 as the fourth quarter loomed.
What made the frame frustrating is how little the Mavericks’ role players did to help Irving out as he single-handedly tried to bring Dallas back. Martin, PJ Washington, Morez Johnson Jr., Zaccharie Risacher and Santi Aldama all combined to score four points on a combined 2-of-7 from the field in the third. Irving scored 20 of his team-high XX in the third before the Mavericks faded into the Cleveland night down the stretch.
11-of-31: Cooper Flagg shooting in last two losses
Flagg was nonexistent on both ends of the floor against the Cavs, as he made just six field goals on offense, and got burned time and time again on defense while trying to stay in front of someone named Tyrese Proctor off ball screens. Flagg made just 5-of-12 from the field in limited action on Thursday in the blowout loss at Minnesota.
Proctor has, for most of the early part of the year, been a 20-minute-off-the-bench kind of guy. Against the Mavs on Saturday, he set career-high marks in points, rebounds, and assists on his way to the first triple-double of his career. Proctor burned everyone the Mavs sent at him on Saturday, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-19 shooting, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in the unlikely Cleveland win.
Brooklyn Nets center Day'ron Sharpe (20) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (27) on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Nets came into Saturday with every advantage. And they flushed them all with an embarrassing 129-110 non-effort against the Grizzlies before 15,103 at FedExForum.
The Nets were the fresher, more rested team. They were coming off a huge win and a solid practice, while Memphis was coming off a back-to-back. And while they were missing Michael Porter Jr., the Grizzlies were without Ty Jerome, one of the biggest breakout stories in basketball.
And the Nets never competed. Not for a moment.
Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe (20) handles the ball against Memphis Grizzlies forward Cameron Boozer (27) on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. AP Photo/Brandon Dill
“It’s frustrating they played harder than us,” admitted Jordi Fernández.
They were down by 18 in a first quarter that saw them give up 9-for-11 shooting from deep. They fell behind by as much as 26.
And when it was done, they knew they’d turned in a stinker.
“We cut it to seven at some point and you should’ve been in the game, but we’re not mature enough,” said a frustrated Fernández. “We played against a team that played on the second [night] of a back-to-back with the same travel that we had and they played the right way, played really hard. We’re not there yet.”
Sitting on the bench as a late scratch for personal reasons, Porter saw his Nets stumble badly right out of the gate, already trailing 35-17 with 2:47 left in the first quarter after a Cam Spencer 3-pointer.
After a sloppy turnover by Egor Dëmin, the Nets called a timeout. The young guard got chastised by Fernández and spoken to by Julius Randle.
Brooklyn Nets forward Julius Randle (30) shoots against the Memphis Grizzlies during an NBA basketball game Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. AP Photo/Brandon Dill
“I was just trying to tell, it’s on us that we had bad organization getting the ball in,” Randle said. “But in those moments, instead of turning the ball over and having a live turnover, just take the five-second [violation] so we can just get back and get our defense set. So, on us. Just trying not to compound it.”
“Yeah, they’ve got to grow fast,” Fernández said of young guards Dëmin, Nolan Traore and Mikel Brown Jr. “Being 20 is not an excuse. … I’m frustrated or I get mad because I know they’re very good and they’re better than this. And when I just don’t see a connected group is when it hurts because we make those pushes and cut it to 10, cut it to seven. It’s just frustrating.”
The Nets had clawed to within 85-77 on Randle’s 3 with 5:12 left in the third quarter, but they got no closer.
A Randle turnover killed the brittle Brooklyn momentum, and it quickly swung back the other way. The Nets coughed up a 16-1 run, with a Taylor Hendricks dunk putting them in a 101-78 hole with 40 seconds left in the third.
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez gestures from the sideline during an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn., Nov. 14, 2026. AP Photo/Brandon Dill
The Nets fell behind by 26 after a Javon Small 3-pointer with 7:08 to play.
“We weren’t committed as well on defense, and they played harder than us. That was really it,” Day’Ron Sharpe said. “I just felt like we weren’t connected, weren’t trusting one another, and we’ve just got to get better at that and we got to keep focused on just staying consistent in our energy.”
Randle finished with 22 points but was a minus-18. Sharpe had 16 points and 11 boards. But the Nets allowed 52.9 percent shooting and 42.9 percent from deep.
Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (10) reacts in the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Memphis, Tenn., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. AP Photo/Brandon Dill
Memphis’ Cedric Coward had a game-high 23 points, while Hendricks added 22 for a Grizzlies team that didn’t even have Jerome.
It was a galling way to end the four-game road swing.
“It was things that we can control,” Randle said. “But we didn’t get enough stops. They made like nine 3s in the first quarter. It’s tough when a team gets it going that early. We didn’t punch first. We didn’t come out with a sense of urgency. And they took advantage of that.
“Frustrating because we want to see our habits translate, and they didn’t [Saturday]. So we’ve got to be better.”
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The name of the game in the NBA is adjustments.
It’s usually about adjusting to other teams. But for the Nets — and a host of others around the league over the past two days — it was adjusting their travel.
The Nets — who were en route to play the Grizzlies, an eventual 129-110 loss — got thrown into travel chaos Friday night and Saturday morning, just like the rest of the country. The Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ground every flight nationwide for hours Friday left travelers scrambling, and the Nets were among them.
“Yeah, I mean, obviously it was something that we couldn’t control,” Nets coach Jordi Fernández said. “And to be honest with you, it was not that bad. We had good rest and got here [Saturday] morning and did our walkthrough, and probably [would have] gone to the gym, but we were not able to. And I think we feel good and ready to go.”
Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez looks on during the second half of an NBA basketball game in New Orleans, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman
The ground stop lasted over four hours before the FAA finally let airplanes take off Friday night. The Nets were one of five NBA teams that had been slated to fly that day for games Saturday.
Brooklyn had been coming off a dominant 142-111 victory over the Pelicans on Wednesday night at Smoothie King Arena. They had stayed in New Orleans and practiced in the city Friday morning before heading to the airport to charter to Memphis.
The Nets had just boarded their team plane in New Orleans, but had their flight halted in place. They eventually had to deboard the plane, scramble and find a hotel and stay overnight in New Orleans.
Eventually, the Nets flew out at about 9 a.m. Saturday and arrived around 11 a.m., though the times blurred to Fernández.
“Every day feels the same day and I just know the team that I play against in the city that I’m in,” Fernández laughed. “I don’t know about time, sorry.”
The Nets had initially planned to have a morning shootaround in Memphis. But arriving that morning instead of the afternoon prior, their plans got changed.
They faced the Grizzlies later that night at FedExForum.
“Yeah, I mean, some of the guys we would have done some sort of shooting in the morning. It’s been the routine that they’ve had so far, whether it’s in a team setting or shooting times and walk-through and stuff like that. But we were not able to do it because of the time that we got here,” Fernández said. “So, like I said, it’s not ideal. We got here, everybody’s safe. It’s the most important thing.”
Nets play-by-play voice Chris Carrino and color analyst Tim Capstraw — Brooklyn’s radio announcers for WFAN — were flying commercial and also got caught by the travel chaos. With direct transit from New Orleans to Memphis already all but impossible, the duo had flown to Houston and planned to catch a connecting flight but got stranded in Texas. They stayed in the airport and flew into Memphis on a 7:20 a.m. flight.
Ironically, the Grizzlies had also been in New Orleans, and beat the Pelicans on Friday night.
JetBlue and American Airlines planes sit at gates at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport after the FAA lifted a ground stop in Washington, Nov. 14, 2026. REUTERS
Memphis had to fly home Saturday morning as well.
“Before the New Orleans game you could see a lot of chatter courtside and in the locker room about what was going to happen,” Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo said.
“We departed at maybe 11:30 when our original time was about 10 o’clock … instead of doing a morning shootaround on back-to-backs, a lot of times what teams do is a jog through here at the area, so you don’t come back twice.”
The Detroit Pistons had already flown to Miami, with the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies all having played Friday night and been expected to fly afterward, according to ESPN.
Friday saw a total of 9,132 cancellations and 7,030 delays. Saturday saw thousands more, with the numbers still growing.
Officials cited “extraordinary circumstances” caused by communications issues at regional air traffic control centers for the stoppage.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pointed to “old switches, old routers.”
The Nets had a jumbo lineup again Saturday, but not their leading scorer.
Michael Porter Jr. was out Saturday after being a late scratch due to personal reasons. But the backcourt was healthy, with Nolan Traore and Mikel Brown Jr. both returning after having missed the win in New Orleans.
The Nets went with Egor Dëmin, Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney, Julius Randle and Day’Ron Sharpe, every starter at least 6-foot-9, as they had been against the Pelicans. The Nets are the first team to do so since the Lakers on April 21, 1990.
Nov 14, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Cooper Flagg (32) looks to pass beside Cleveland Cavaliers forward Mario Hezonja (33) in the first quarter at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The Dallas Mavericks (7-6) fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers (7-7), 127-117 in a Saturday night matchup on the road. The matchup followed Dallas’ 133-94 beatdown loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night. The Mavericks needed a bounce-back performance after Thursday night’s blunder, and failed to take advantage of a second-string Cavaliers team.
Max Christie, Sergio de Larrea, Dereck Lively, and Tarik Biberovic were out for the Mavericks. Cleveland was without Donovan Mitchell, James Harden, Peyton Watson, Evan Mobley, Jarret Allen, and Sam Merrill. The Cavaliers sat all their top players after being unable to leave Miami until 9 a.m. due to a nationwide FAA grounding, following their 133-121 loss to the Heat. The nationwide grounding led to a call from Mitchell to cancel the game.
Kyrie Irving led the Mavericks with 34 points, six rebounds, and five assists, with 28 of those points coming in the second half. Tyrese Proctor contributed 24 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists, his first career triple-double, for the shorthanded Cavaliers.
The Mavericks struggled to defend the three early on, allowing Cleveland to make six threes in the first quarter, taking 58% of their shots from behind the arc. The Cavaliers, though shorthanded, had a hot hand early, allowing them to compete with the Mavericks in the first period. Caleb Martin was a bright spot for the Mavericks in this period, contributing nine first-quarter points as he continues to string together solid contributions in Dallas. Though the Mavericks couldn’t stop Meleek Thomas’s three-point shot early in the game, they walked into the second period at a 33-33 stalemate.
The Mavericks struggled offensively in the second period, letting their offensive mishaps affect how they defended the Cavaliers on the other end. The Cavaliers’ early hot hand from behind the arc faded away in the second quarter, but they were able to go inside, as the Mavericks continued to struggle to defend them. The Mavericks needed more from Cooper Flagg in this quarter, who went 1-of-6 from the field as the Cavaliers’ lead grew behind their 28-9 run in the quarter. Dallas walked into the intermission after giving up 38 points in the period, down 71-53, with a desperate need to punch back in the second half.
Dallas entered the second half uninspired to turn around its double-digit deficit, letting the lead swell to over twenty points. Dallas attempted to make a run midway through the third period, cutting the lead to 14, but continued to be unable to defend Cleveland to close the lead in any meaningful way. After a string of defensive stops, the Mavericks closed the gap with the Cavaliers, cutting the lead to 10. Irving provided a necessary 20 points in the third quarter when the Mavericks couldn’t find a bucket. Even then, the Mavericks entered the fourth quarter with a 14-point deficit to dig themselves out of. The Mavericks’ struggles seeped into the fourth quarter, despite everything Irving tried to do for Dallas. The Mavericks were unable to string together enough stops to fight back, falling 127-117.
Here are three takeaways from Saturday night’s loss.
Offensive woes on the road
The Mavericks’ offensive struggles continued on the road, shooting 39-of-94 from the field in the loss to Cleveland. Dallas needed someone to step up alongside Irving, but failed to take advantage of a less-talented group. This team needs more from guys like PJ Washington and Naji Marshall, who both shot poorly from the field in the loss to the Cavaliers. Off-nights from Flagg mean that someone else needs to answer the call, and the Mavericks failed to find someone to do so against Cleveland.
Cooper Flagg’s struggles
Cooper Flagg struggled in Saturday night’s matchup with the Cavaliers, finishing with 18 points on 6-of-19 from the field. He was unable to find his shot tonight, and it felt like he was trying to force himself out of his slump by trying to draw whistles that he didn’t get. He shot 0-of-6 from behind the arc tonight, though the Mavericks shot poorly from three as a whole. The Mavericks need more from Flagg, especially when facing a team missing its best players, because Irving can’t be left to do it on his own. Flagg’s youth showed tonight, and the Mavericks will need him to return to his All-Star-caliber self.
Kyrie Irving’s third quarter
Kyrie Irving’s 20-point third quarter gave the Mavericks a glimmer of temporary hope, with the Mavericks closing the Cavaliers’ lead to 10. He was able to find his shot in this quarter, giving the Mavericks the push they needed to try to close the gap on the Cavaliers. Irving finished with 34 points, with the Mavericks needing every last one. Irving has played like an All-Star since returning from his ACL tear, and tonight was another impressive showing, coming when Dallas needed it the most. The Mavericks were unable to find anyone to step up to the plate alongside Irving and play with some shame against the Cleveland B-team.
Up next
The Mavericks are back in action Sunday, as they travel to Boston to face the Celtics at the TD Garden. Catch the tail end of the Mavericks back-to-back at 5 p.m. CT on KFAA-TV and MavsTV.
