Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers: Complete Match Player Stats, Box Scores, and Game Analysis (March 2026)

The Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers Match Player Stats met twice in a dramatic back-to-back series in March 2026. The two games produced wildly contrasting results. In the first meeting, Cleveland dominated from the opening tip. Two days later, Dallas delivered a sharp, disciplined response. This article provides every player stat, quarter-by-quarter breakdown, team shooting line, and key takeaways from both matchups. Whether you are looking for Cooper Flagg’s points and assists, P.J. Washington’s steals record, or a detailed look at how Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley performed across both nights, you will find it all here.

Series Overview: Two Games, Two Very Different Stories

Detail	Game 1	Game 2	Winner
Date	March 13, 2026	March 15, 2026
Location	American Airlines Center, Dallas	Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Cleveland
Final Score	DAL 105, CLE 138	DAL 130, CLE 120
Winning Team	Cleveland Cavaliers	Dallas Mavericks
Margin	CLE by 33	DAL by 10

Game 1 was a Cleveland statement. The Cavaliers shot 61.5 percent from the field and led by as many as 35 points, exposing Dallas’s defense at every level. Game 2 was Dallas’s turn. The Mavericks responded with a 50 percent three-point shooting night and a career-high steals performance from P.J. Washington to snap a long road losing streak.

Game 1: Cleveland Cavaliers 138, Dallas Mavericks 105 (March 13, 2026)

Cleveland came into Dallas and delivered one of the most complete offensive performances of the NBA season. The Cavaliers shot 61.5 percent from the field, including 47.4 percent from three, and controlled the paint with 72 points inside. Dallas had no answer for Evan Mobley, who was virtually unstoppable all night.

Game 1 Quarter-by-Quarter Score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Cleveland Cavaliers	38	29	41	30	138
Dallas Mavericks	21	29	33	22	105

Cleveland dominated the first quarter 38-21 and never looked back. Even Dallas’s best quarter, the third (33 points), was matched or beaten by Cleveland in every period.

Game 1 Team Stats Comparison

Statistic	Cleveland Cavaliers	Dallas Mavericks
Field Goal %	61.5%	43.7%
3-Point %	47.4% (18-38)	27.3% (9-33)
Free Throw %	61.5% (8-13)	83.3% (20-24)
Rebounds	48	47
Assists	32	27
Steals	12	4
Blocks	4	3
Turnovers	14	19
Points in Paint	72	48
Fast Break Points	19	16
Bench Points	52	39
Biggest Lead	35	4
Effective FG%	71.4%	48.9%

Game 1 Player Stats: Cleveland Cavaliers

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3P	FT
Evan Mobley	29	7	2	1	0	2	12-15	2-4	3-7
Keon Ellis	13	3	1	1	2	1	5-9	3-5	0-0
Thomas Bryant	11	4	0	2	2	0	4-5	1-2	2-2
Dennis Schroder	8	5	6	1	0	0	3-8	2-4	0-0
Jaylon Tyson	8	3	2	0	0	2	3-6	2-3	0-0
Nae’Qwan Tomlin	8	2	1	1	0	2	4-7	0-3	0-1
Larry Nance Jr.	6	4	1	0	0	0	2-2	2-2	0-0
Craig Porter Jr.	5	4	1	1	0	0	2-2	1-1	0-0
Riley Minix	4	3	2	0	0	0	2-3	0-1	0-0
Dean Wade	3	0	1	1	0	0	1-2	1-1	0-0
Tristan Enaruna	2	1	0	1	0	1	1-5	0-1	0-0

Game 1 Player Stats: Dallas Mavericks

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3P	FT
Cooper Flagg	25	4	5	0	0	3	8-16	1-3	8-8
Naji Marshall	17	7	3	1	0	2	7-12	2-4	1-4
Max Christie	12	0	0	0	0	1	4-8	2-6	2-2
Brandon Williams	12	3	3	0	1	3	3-8	2-3	4-5
Dwight Powell	11	11	2	2	0	1	4-5	0-0	3-3
Ryan Nembhard	8	4	9	0	0	1	3-7	2-4	0-0
Klay Thompson	6	2	1	0	0	0	3-11	0-5	0-0
Marvin Bagley III	4	4	0	0	1	2	2-5	0-1	0-0
Khris Middleton	4	2	1	0	0	2	2-6	0-1	0-0
Caleb Martin	4	1	2	1	1	1	1-5	0-3	2-2

Game 1 Key Performer Spotlight

Evan Mobley was the clear standout in Game 1. He finished with 29 points on 12-of-15 shooting, converting at 80 percent overall and 90.9 percent on two-point attempts. He attacked Dallas’s interior defense relentlessly, scoring 20 of his points inside. His true shooting percentage reached 80.2 percent, marking one of the most efficient individual performances of the season. Cooper Flagg led Dallas with 25 points and drew seven fouls, showing his ability to get to the line even in a losing effort. Ryan Nembhard’s nine assists were a bright spot for an otherwise struggling Mavericks offense.

Game 2: Dallas Mavericks 130, Cleveland Cavaliers 120 (March 15, 2026)

Dallas came to Cleveland two days later as a different team. The Mavericks shot 50 percent from three-point range, forced 16 Cleveland turnovers, and generated 25 points off those mistakes. P.J. Washington delivered a career-defining performance that changed the game’s complexion early in the second half.

Game 2 Quarter-by-Quarter Score

Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Dallas Mavericks	35	25	40	30	130
Cleveland Cavaliers	31	28	27	34	120

Dallas led after the first quarter and never relinquished the lead. The third quarter was decisive. Dallas outscored Cleveland 40-27 to build a 21-point lead, the game’s biggest. Cleveland mounted a fourth-quarter run but could not climb all the way back.

Game 2 Team Stats Comparison

Statistic	Dallas Mavericks	Cleveland Cavaliers
Field Goal %	52.9%	51.1%
3-Point %	50.0% (15-30)	39.0% (16-41)
Free Throw %	85.2% (23-27)	66.7% (14-21)
Rebounds	50	46
Assists	35	32
Steals	13	5
Blocks	5	5
Turnovers	13	16
Points Off Turnovers	25	9
Points in Paint	52	54
Fast Break Points	24	14
Second Chance Points	11	9
Bench Points	38	46
Biggest Lead	21	2
Effective FG%	61.5%	60.2%
True Shooting %	65.7%	61.7%
Assists-to-Turnover Ratio	2.92	2.00

Game 2 Player Stats: Dallas Mavericks

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3P	FT
Cooper Flagg	27	6	10	0	2	3	10-17	1-3	6-8
Naji Marshall	25	5	7	1	0	3	8-12	1-1	8-8
P.J. Washington	20	11	2	5	1	0	8-16	3-4	1-2
Brandon Williams	12	2	5	2	0	0	4-7	0-1	4-4
John Poulakidas	10	3	0	1	0	1	4-6	2-4	0-0
Marvin Bagley III	6	5	0	0	1	2	2-4	1-2	1-2
Caleb Martin	5	1	0	0	0	1	1-2	1-1	2-2
Khris Middleton	5	5	2	1	0	2	2-9	1-4	0-0
Dwight Powell	0	1	1	0	0	0	0-0	0-0	0-0

Game 2 Player Stats: Cleveland Cavaliers

Player	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	3P	FT
Donovan Mitchell	26	1	11	2	0	1	10-24	4-11	2-2
Max Strus	24	8	1	0	0	1	7-9	6-7	4-4
James Harden	13	5	7	1	0	6	4-12	1-5	4-5
Dean Wade	12	5	0	0	0	0	5-9	2-5	0-0
Thomas Bryant	10	2	0	1	0	0	3-4	2-3	2-4
Dennis Schroder	8	1	6	0	0	1	4-5	0-0	0-1
Keon Ellis	5	5	3	0	1	2	2-7	1-5	0-0

Individual Player Spotlights

Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks)

The rookie forward produced a two-game stat line that has NBA observers talking. In Game 1, Flagg scored 25 points on 8-of-16 shooting and went a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line, drawing seven fouls against Cleveland’s defense. In Game 2 at Cleveland, he raised his game further with 27 points, six rebounds, and 10 assists, converting 10-of-17 shots. He recorded a double-double and posted a plus/minus of plus-two, the best among Dallas starters. His ability to get into the paint against Cleveland’s elite interior defenders and still create for teammates made him the engine of both Dallas performances. His two-game combined line of 52 points, 10 rebounds, and 15 assists is the kind of rookie output that defines seasons.

• Game 1: 25 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST, 8-16 FG, 8-8 FT
• Game 2: 27 PTS, 6 REB, 10 AST, 10-17 FG, 2 BLK
• Two-game totals: 52 PTS, 10 REB, 15 AST
• Combined true shooting percentage: 64.9%
• Drew 14 fouls across the two games

P.J. Washington (Dallas Mavericks)

Washington’s Game 2 performance was the most surprising individual stat line of the series. Starting at center, he posted 20 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high six steals. He shot 3-of-4 from three-point range and was the most dominant defender on the floor. His combination of paint presence, perimeter shooting, and passing denial disrupted Cleveland’s half-court sets. Washington’s plus/minus of plus-17 was the best figure of anyone in either game. He held the game’s largest positive impact rating, and his six steals as a center is an exceptionally rare achievement in the modern NBA.

• 20 PTS, 11 REB, 2 AST, 5 STL, 1 BLK in Game 2
• Career-high 6 steals (corrected from initial reports)
• Shot 3-of-4 from three-point range
• Plus/minus of plus-17, best in either game
• Led all players in defensive rating in Game 2

Naji Marshall (Dallas Mavericks)

Marshall was a two-game contributor who stepped up across both ends of the floor. In Game 1 he scored 17 points on efficient shooting in a losing effort. In Game 2, he was even better with 25 points on 8-of-12 shooting and a perfect 8-of-8 from the free throw line. His seven assists in Game 2 showed off the playmaking he rarely gets credit for. He scored 14 points in the paint across Game 2 alone and added seven second-chance points, reflecting his relentless activity around the basket. Marshall’s combined two-game total of 42 points makes him a quiet hero of the series.

• Game 1: 17 PTS, 7 REB, 3 AST, 7-12 FG
• Game 2: 25 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 8-12 FG, 8-8 FT (perfect)
• Two-game totals: 42 PTS, 12 REB, 10 AST

Evan Mobley (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Mobley was the best player on the floor in Game 1 and the most physically imposing force Dallas had no answer for. His 29-point outing on 80 percent shooting stands as one of the most efficient individual performances in this matchup’s history. He made 10 of 11 two-point attempts and scored 20 of his points in the paint. His biggest limitation across the series was foul trouble in Game 1 and his absence or reduced role in Game 2 when Dallas’s defense focused on limiting his touches. Mobley’s Game 1 efficiency score of 23.4 was the second highest of any player across both games.

• Game 1: 29 PTS, 7 REB, 2 AST, 12-15 FG, 80.0% FG
• 20 points scored inside the paint in Game 1
• True shooting percentage of 80.2% in Game 1

Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Mitchell was the lone Cavalier who showed up in force for Game 2. He finished with 26 points and 11 assists for a double-double, making him the only Cleveland player who truly matched the moment. He also hit four three-pointers on 11 attempts. His field goal percentage of 41.7 percent reflects a difficult shooting night but his 11 assists shows how involved he remained in directing Cleveland’s offense. His six turnovers from Game 1 (James Harden) hurt Cleveland severely in Game 2, and Mitchell’s cleaner 1-turnover game shows the difference in ball security between their two primary ball-handlers.

• Game 2: 26 PTS, 1 REB, 11 AST, 2 STL, 10-24 FG, 4-11 3P
• Double-double with 26 points and 11 assists
• Shot 100% from the free throw line (2-2)

Max Strus (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Strus produced an eye-catching shooting performance in Game 2 despite his team’s loss. He made six of seven three-point attempts for a 85.7 percent clip and finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. His true shooting percentage for the night was an extraordinary 111.5 percent, driven by near-perfect shooting and a perfect 4-of-4 from the free throw line. He scored five second-chance points and five fast break points, showing his versatility. However, Strus’s excellence was not enough to compensate for Cleveland’s collective defensive and turnover struggles.

• Game 2: 24 PTS, 8 REB, 1 AST, 7-9 FG, 6-7 3PT (85.7%), 4-4 FT
• True shooting percentage of 111.5%
• 5 second-chance points, 5 fast break points

James Harden (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Harden struggled in his return to Dallas in Game 2. He scored 13 points but turned the ball over six times, which directly resulted in nine of Dallas’s 25 points off turnovers. His true shooting percentage of 45.8 percent and field goal efficiency of 33.3 percent reflected a difficult night against Dallas’s aggressive denial defense. Dallas’s 13 steals as a team in Game 2 largely came from forcing Harden into poor decisions with the ball, and his minus-5 plus/minus confirmed the damage his turnovers caused.

• Game 2: 13 PTS, 5 REB, 7 AST, 4-12 FG, 6 TO
• Six turnovers, highest on either team in Game 2
• True shooting percentage of 45.8%

Combined Two-Game Player Stats Leaders

The following tables show the top performers across both games combined, giving a full picture of who led the series in each statistical category.

Combined Scoring Leaders (Both Games)

Player	Team	G1 PTS	G2 PTS	Total PTS	Avg
Cooper Flagg	DAL	25	27	52	26.0
Naji Marshall	DAL	17	25	42	21.0
Evan Mobley	CLE	29	N/A	29	29.0
Donovan Mitchell	CLE	N/A	26	26	26.0
Max Strus	CLE	N/A	24	24	24.0
P.J. Washington	DAL	N/A	20	20	20.0
Brandon Williams	DAL	12	12	24	12.0

Notable Individual Records and Milestones

• P.J. Washington: Career-high 5 steals in a single game (Game 2), among the highest by a center in 2025-26
• Cooper Flagg: Back-to-back 25-plus point games (25 and 27) against one of the Eastern Conference’s top defenses
• Evan Mobley: 80.0% field goal percentage in Game 1, one of the most efficient shooting games of his career
• Max Strus: 85.7% three-point shooting (6-of-7) in Game 2, one of the best single-game three-point performances of the season
• Naji Marshall: Perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line in Game 2, combined with 8-for-12 from the field
• Dallas team record: 50% from three-point range in Game 2 (15-of-30), compared to 27.3% in Game 1
• Dallas team record: 13 steals in Game 2, leading to 25 points off turnovers
• Ryan Nembhard: 9 assists with only 1 turnover in Game 1

What These Games Mean for Both Teams

Dallas Mavericks: Building Through the Pain

The Mavericks entered this series sitting at 23-45, deep in lottery territory. From a winning-and-losing standpoint, neither result fundamentally changed their season. However, these games produced real developmental value. Cooper Flagg showed he can carry a team against elite competition. P.J. Washington showed defensive versatility at a position the team rarely uses. Naji Marshall’s scoring consistency has been one of the quiet stories of this Dallas season. The 130-120 win in Cleveland also ended a stretch of difficult losses and showed this group of young players they can compete and win on the road against a legitimate playoff contender.

Cleveland Cavaliers: A Warning Sign Before the Playoffs

Cleveland entered the series at 41-27, firmly positioned in the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture. Game 1 was everything they wanted. Game 2 was a concern. Allowing Dallas, a lottery-bound team, to shoot 50 percent from three and generate 25 points off turnovers at home is not a good sign heading into the postseason. James Harden’s six turnovers in Game 2 and the team’s inability to guard Dallas’s perimeter rotation are areas Cleveland’s coaching staff will want to address. Donovan Mitchell’s 26-point, 11-assist double-double showed his value, but the Cavaliers needed more from their supporting cast. The playoff bracket will demand a sharper defensive effort.

Key Tactical Factors That Decided Each Game

Why Cleveland Won Game 1 by 33 Points

• Evan Mobley was unstoppable inside. Dallas had no center who could slow him down.
• Cleveland shot 47.4% from three on 38 attempts, a volume and efficiency combination Dallas could not match.
• Cleveland forced 19 Dallas turnovers and converted 20 points off those mistakes.
• Cleveland’s bench produced 52 points compared to Dallas’s 39.
• Dallas’s three-point shooting collapsed at 27.3%, and the team never found a rhythm from deep.
• Cleveland’s biggest lead reached 35, removing any drama from the final two quarters.

Why Dallas Won Game 2 by 10 Points

• Dallas shot 15-of-30 from three (50%), compared to Cleveland’s 16-of-41 (39%).
• P.J. Washington’s five steals disrupted Cleveland’s ball movement and led directly to transition opportunities.
• Dallas generated 25 points off Cleveland’s 16 turnovers, a 16-point advantage in that category alone.
• Dallas’s 24 fast-break points to Cleveland’s 14 reflected their ability to push the pace after forcing turnovers.
• Dallas outrebounded Cleveland 50-46 and had a 2.92 assist-to-turnover ratio compared to Cleveland’s 2.00.
• Cooper Flagg’s 10 assists energized the Dallas offense and kept Cleveland’s defense off balance.

Series History and Context

The Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers do not meet frequently in the regular season, but when they do, the games carry significant storylines. The March 2026 back-to-back set was unusual in how dramatically the results flipped. A 33-point blowout followed two days later by a 10-point Dallas road win illustrates how thin the margin can be in the modern NBA even between teams at opposite ends of the standings. Cleveland’s roster, headlined by Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and the veteran presence of James Harden, represents legitimate championship contention. Dallas’s rebuilding core, anchored by the exceptional early-career development of Cooper Flagg, represents where the future of the franchise is headed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Summary

The March 2026 Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers series delivered two completely different games that revealed the character of both teams. Cleveland’s Game 1 blowout showed what their ceiling looks like when Evan Mobley dominates inside and their perimeter shooters are connecting. Dallas’s Game 2 response showed what their ceiling looks like when Cooper Flagg controls the game and P.J. Washington brings elite defensive energy. For fans looking for the complete Dallas Mavericks vs Cleveland Cavaliers match player stats, this article has covered every box score line, every quarter, every key performance, and the tactical details that made each game’s result inevitable. Both games belong in the memory of a 2025-26 NBA season full of compelling storylines.

You May Also Like It:

Golden State Warriors vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats

Dallas Mavericks vs Denver Nuggets Match Player Stats

Denver Nuggets vs Oklahoma City Thunder Match Player Stats