In a surprising turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks faced a heavy defeat, falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers 144-101 in their first game after the shocking trade of five-time NBA All-Star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. This trade involved a three-way deal that also saw Anthony Davis and young talent Max Christie moving to Dallas, though Christie was not available for this matchup.

The Cavaliers, who are currently leading the Eastern Conference, showcased their offensive firepower as Sam Merrill came off the bench to sink an impressive nine three-pointers, contributing significantly to their monumental score. Meanwhile, Evan Mobley delivered a strong performance, securing 22 points and 11 rebounds, while Darius Garland added 17 points and 10 assists to help guide his team to a comfortable victory.

In other league action, the Boston Celtics made headlines as they staged a remarkable comeback from a 26-point deficit against the Philadelphia 76ers, ultimately winning the game 118-110. Despite missing star players Joel Embiid and Paul George due to injuries, the Sixers led early but faltered in the final minutes, allowing the Celtics to outscore them 54-20 in the last 15 minutes. Jaylen Brown, who had a standout performance, recorded 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Additionally, the Detroit Pistons featured seven players scoring in double figures, with Cade Cunningham leading the way with 22 points, to defeat the Chicago Bulls 127-119. The Toronto Raptors also continued their winning ways, defeating the visiting Los Angeles Clippers 115-108 thanks to RJ Barrett’s contribution of 20 points and 7 assists.

As the Mavericks look to regroup and find their footing without Doncic, they will face the challenge of adapting to a new team dynamic while competitors are increasingly stepping up in the ongoing NBA season.