Mavericks reverse weekend series in Cleveland, beating Cavaliers 130-120 behind Cooper Flagg’s complete game
Dallas responds two days after lopsided loss in Texas
The Dallas Mavericks closed a brief two-game set with the Cleveland Cavaliers by flipping the result on Sunday, March 15, winning 130-120 at Rocket Arena. The outcome came 48 hours after Cleveland’s 138-105 victory over Dallas on Friday, March 13, making the series split a notable swing in performance and execution across the weekend.
Dallas improved to 23-45, while Cleveland fell to 41-27. The game was played before an announced attendance of 19,432.
How the game turned: a decisive third quarter
Dallas built separation with its most productive stretch immediately after halftime. The Mavericks outscored the Cavaliers 40-27 in the third quarter, turning a one-point halftime deficit into a double-digit lead entering the fourth. Cleveland won the final quarter 34-30 but did not close the gap enough to change the outcome.
- First quarter: Dallas 35, Cleveland 31
- Second quarter: Cleveland 28, Dallas 25
- Third quarter: Dallas 40, Cleveland 27
- Fourth quarter: Cleveland 34, Dallas 30
Flagg and Mitchell drive high-output offenses
Rookie forward Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 27 points, six rebounds and 10 assists, adding two blocks. Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell finished with 26 points and 11 assists, along with two steals.
Dallas generated 35 assists on 46 made field goals, a level of ball movement that helped sustain efficiency across all four quarters.
Efficiency, free throws, and turnovers shaped the margin
Both teams shot above 50% from the field, but Dallas produced a sharper edge at the foul line and took better care of the ball in key moments.
- Field goals: Dallas 46-of-87 (52.9%); Cleveland 45-of-88 (51.1%)
- Three-pointers: Dallas 15-of-30 (50.0%); Cleveland 16-of-41 (39.0%)
- Free throws: Dallas 23-of-27 (85.2%); Cleveland 14-of-21 (66.7%)
- Turnovers: Dallas 13; Cleveland 16
Dallas also recorded 13 steals compared with Cleveland’s five, creating extra possessions that helped offset a narrow Cavaliers edge on the offensive glass (Cleveland 10 offensive rebounds to Dallas’ nine).
What it means for Cleveland
The Cavaliers’ weekend split underscored how quickly outcomes can swing late in the regular season. Cleveland’s offense remained productive, but the defensive third-quarter drop and the difference in free-throw efficiency were decisive factors in a game that featured 250 combined points.