The Cleveland Cavaliers escaped with an exciting 121-119 win over the visiting Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday, February 27, at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
In the game's closing moments, Cavs guard Max Strus delivered a game-winning buzzer-beater from beyond half-court, stunning the Mavericks.
This unbelievable shot came just seconds after Mavericks power forward P.J. Washington scored a go-ahead layup, assisted by star player Luka Doncic, with a mere 2.6 seconds left on the clock.
Strus showcased an incredible shooting performance during crunch time, hitting four consecutive three-pointers in the final four minutes before his game-winner, his seventh three.
This remarkable display of accuracy from the 27-year-old proved crucial as the Cavaliers overcame a double-digit deficit.
Strus's shot measured an impressive 59 feet, solidifying it as one of the longest NBA game-winning buzzer-beaters ever.
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Where does Max Strus's shot rank among the longest game-winners in NBA History?
1. Julius Erving - 53 feet (February 28, 1986)
Then, Philadelphia 76ers star Julius Erving nailed a 52-foot game-winning buzzer-beater from just beyond half-court on the road against the Dallas Mavericks. This basket was almost 38 years before Strus's recent shot on February 28, 1986.
In that game, the Sixers emerged victorious with a score of 123-120. Dr. J concluded the evening with an impressive stat line of 20 points and eight assists.
2. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf (then known as Chris Jackson) - 55 feet (November 27, 1992)
In a late November 1992 regular-season game, Denver Nuggets' Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, formerly Chris Jackson, helped his team secure a thrilling 109-106 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers by sinking a remarkable 55-foot game-winning shot.
He finished with 19 points during the evening, shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 2-of-3 from three-point range while adding four assists and three rebounds.
3. Max Strus - 59 feet (February 27, 2024)
Strus' recent game-winning shot falls just two feet short of claiming the top spot on this list of longest NBA buzzer-beaters.
The 6-foot-6 wing finished the game with 21 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two blocks while shooting 7-of-12 from the field. All of his made shots were three-pointers, going 7-of-10 from beyond the arc.
4. Devonte' Graham - 61 feet (December 15, 2021)
Former New Orleans Pelicans guard Devonte' Graham currently holds the top spot for the longest game-winning buzzer-beater in NBA history, sinking a shot from an impressive 61 feet out with just 1.4 seconds remaining. This memorable moment occurred at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City in December 2021.
Graham's historic shot came right after Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made a ridiculous off-balance three-pointer to tie the game at 110, with no timeout called by the Pelicans afterward.
The contrasting emotions among Thunder fans were evident in a matter of seconds.
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