The recent encounters between Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers have provided an interesting case of a head on collision in basketball that in the current NBA takes the form of contrasting basketball styles. Both teams were starting the 2024-25 season with high expectations driven by elite talent and playoff hopes but their head to head encounters came out as two teams on entirely different competitive paths. Dallas relied heavily on star power led by Luka Doncic, while Cleveland showcased one of the league’s most complete team systems built around efficient scoring and disciplined defense. Cleveland instead became one of the most balanced teams in the league with a combination of efficient scoring, a disciplined defense and excellent ball movement. This article will provide complete information about Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats.
Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Details
| Match Detail | Game 1 | Game 2 |
| Teams | Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers | Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Date | January 3, 2025 | February 2, 2025 |
| Venue | American Airlines Center | Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse |
| Home Team | Dallas Mavericks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Result | Cavaliers Won | Cavaliers Won |
| Final Score | 134–122 | 144–101 |
| Competition | NBA Regular Season | NBA Regular Season |
Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Overview
Since the very beginning of the February game, Cleveland dictated the rhythm and velocity of the game. The Cavaliers were producing unbelievable results in the first quarter and registered 50 points, which instantly left a gap on the scoreboard. Their attack passed on seamlessly as they made rapid strides and cleverly spacing out, and Dallas could not find a solution in defense.
The performance of Cleveland with regard to shooting became his defining factor. The team had a conversion of 57 percent field goals and almost 58 percent of its three-point shots, which were indicative of outstanding choice of shots and certainty. The reverse scenario was true of Dallas who missed several at the open perimeter and closed with slightly more than a quarter of its shots made outside the arc.
Cleveland was calm and did not slow down as the game went into progress. The Cavaliers were scoring at a good rate even when there was a change of rotations and the introduction of bench players. Dallas demonstrated signs of intermittent aggression, mostly due to the individual performances of Luka Doncic but lacked the ability to maintain the momentum in order to overcome the lead.
The January game was no different, but Dallas was able to compete longer. The interior defense and transition scoring of Cleveland later turned out decisive as they were able to gain another easy win.
All Things First: Key Game Story
This is because the history of these matches started with Cleveland being able to develop dominance initially and continue to develop it by disciplined action. The offensive tempo of the Cavalries urged Dallas into reactive basketball i.e. where the Mavericks were always reacting, as opposed to dictating. The spacing of Cleveland opened driving lanes and provided unchallenged shots on the perimeter whereas Dallas was unable to do the same. The variation in the movement of the balls was more pronounced. Cleveland looked to collective decision-making, which created open looks using passing formation, but Dallas tended to play the game by using isolation. The outcome was caused by a gap in assist, which was huge and ultimately predetermined by this contrast.
| Category | Dallas Mavericks | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Points Scored | 101 | 144 |
| Field Goal Percentage | 38.8% | 57.0% |
| Three-Point Percentage | 20.9% | 57.8% |
| Assists | 22 | 39 |
| Rebounds | 45 | 51 |
| Blocks | 9 | 8 |
The figures vividly show the efficiency edge of Cleveland and command of the game.
Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats
Dallas Mavericks Player Stats
Dallas was very dependent on Luka Doncic to generate offense and the defensive strategy of Cleveland blocked his performance. Doncic was the top scorer of the team with 21 points but his shooting was not as efficient because he was under constant guarding. The use of a double team and rapid rotation minimized his passing lanes and this also explains his abnormally low number of assists.
Daniel Gafford became one of the most reliable performers in Dallas. His two-fold work involving lots of hard work within the paint, where he completed effectively and fought over rebounds on top of the physical frontcourt of Cleveland. His input avoided additional lopsidedness of the scoreline at the beginning of the game. Klay Thompson demonstrated some scoring potential but was not able to be consistent. Lost perimeter shots damaged the spacing of Dallas, because Cleveland defenders were able to congregate at the paint. Quentin Grimes had also encountered such issues and Spencer Dinwiddie offered average bench scoring but failed to support them to a level of significance.
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3PT% |
| Luka Doncic | 27 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 42.1% | 25.0% |
| Daniel Gafford | 34 | 12 | 11 | 1 | 83.3% | — |
| Klay Thompson | 21 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 35.7% | 33.3% |
| Spencer Dinwiddie | 22 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 50.0% | 0% |
| Quentin Grimes | 24 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 35.7% | 14.3% |
The overall performance of Dallas was that of a team that could not have been as efficient or defense oriented as Cleveland.
Cleveland Cavaliers Player Stats
Cleveland also exhibited great balance, as several players played in scoring, defense, and playmaking categories. Donovan Mitchell scored 27 points, and his performance was very explosive, shooting with a remarkable percentage of three-point range. His precision made Dallas stretch his defense and provided opportunities to the teammates. Evan Mobley had a two-way presence, as he was an effective scorer and a supreme rim protector. His four shot attempts also stopped the offensive flow of Dallas and demoralized basket drives. The presence of Mobley, also enhanced the rebounding advantage of Cleveland. Darius Garland dictated the pace by being smart passing, scoring a pair of doubles in terms of points and assists. The fact that he could read the defensive positions saw Cleveland maintain an offensive flow during the game. Jarrett Allen provided some strength on the inside, getting rebounds and completing inside efficiently around the rim.
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3PT% |
| Donovan Mitchell | 23 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 64.3% | 69.2% |
| Evan Mobley | 24 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 66.7% | 66.7% |
| Darius Garland | 23 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 75.0% | 75.0% |
| Jarrett Allen | 20 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 75.0% | 0% |
| De’Andre Hunter | 27 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 41.7% | 50.0% |
The efficiency of the Cavaliers reflected good chemistry and the knowledge of the roles within the system.
Head-to-Head Context and Season
The Dallas vs Cleveland rivalry has always been at a fairly equal balance but the recent games have swung the tide towards the Cavalries. The contemporary roster building in Cleveland focuses on diversity, defense, and shooting efficiency, which correlates with the existing style of NBA.
| Stat Category | Mavericks Average | Cavaliers Average |
| Points Per Game | 107.2 | 122.3 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 56.6 | 57.5 |
| Assists Per Game | 25.2 | 28.6 |
| Field Goal % | 47.0% | 47.6% |
| Three-Point % | 34.3% | 35.8% |
All these averages support the reason as to why Cleveland has been at an advantage in recent games.
Game Flow and Momentum
Momentum always supported Cleveland due to the presence of continuous execution other than single scoring streaks. Dallas tried to cut the deficit each time but Cleveland replied by efficient possessions, which resulted most of the time in either open perimeter shots or interior finishes. Their capability to remain intense regardless of changing the players on the bench was an indication of roster depth and a good coaching system by the Cavaliers.
Strategic Position and Prospective
The wins of Cleveland made it a strong and high contender in the Eastern Conference and made it stronger in hope of a good playoff. Dallas was competitive but was under the pressure to be more consistent so as to achieve postseason success.
Future games in 2026 will be more intense as the city of Dallas is keen to have some form of redemption and Cleveland wants to keep dominating.
Conclusion
The recent games of Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers have shown a definite difference between personal excellence and team performance. Dallas had a talent that could compete with any other player, but the teamwork, shooting efficiency and defensive organization that Cleveland showed were better than that of Dallas in both of the encounters. These contests depicted the increased reliance on balance, spacing, and efficiency in determining modern NBA success as opposed to having one superstar. With the future meetings in sight, the fans may anticipate corrections on the part of Dallas and the confidence which Cleveland has and which will make sure that this changing rivalry is one which will be worth following over the next few seasons in NBA games.
FAQs
A1. The latest game occurred on February 2, 2025, when the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Dallas Mavericks by a huge margin of 144-101.
A2. Cleveland had the best scorer in Donovan Mitchell who scored 27 points and gave an impressive show in shooting.
A3. Luka Doncic was the top Dallas scorer with 21 points, but had poor shooting efficiency because of intensive defense.
A4. The big difference was in shooting efficiency and ball movement where Cleveland shot more than 57% in the field whereas Dallas had a difficult time out of three-point shooting.
A5. The teams will have one more time to play in the 2026 NBA season, and the watching of the games in the future is likely to be significant in terms of standings and the momentum of rivalry.
Article Code: DALMAV-CRI-001
Also Read: Detroit Pistons vs Cleveland Cavaliers Timeline: Rivalry, Playoffs, Records and Stats
