Max Strus’ Dunk Had Incredible Reactions From Cavs

The Cleveland Cavaliers had plenty of unique ways to describe Max Strus' right-hand throwdown in Portland on Wednesday.

When the Cleveland Cavaliers made their run at the beginning of the fourth quarter to pull away from the Portland Trail Blazers, there was one highlight that stood above the rest.

Up by 12 and following a long rebound on the other end, the Cavs pushed it up the floor and into the hands of Caris LeVert in the middle of the floor. LeVert tossed it back to Max Strus on the right wing in motion, and the rest was history.

Are you kidding me, Max??

🔨 👀@cavs | #LetEMKnow pic.twitter.com/aKINEUBKjL

— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) November 16, 2023

Strus drove past a scrambling Shaedon Sharpe into the paint scattered with Blazers watching, and he threw down a right-handed slam as Evan Mobley screamed and Donovan Mitchell grabbed his head with his mouth agape.

“That was crazy. Right-right,” Mobley said postgame. “That was like a big-man dunk.”

“Oh easily one of the best ones of the year, I think,” Mitchell added. “I didn't think he was gonna go off one foot. You saw my reaction. I was in shock. I think that's something that I didn't know he had. Even the one he had earlier, I think it was against Indiana, but for him to go up there and try it, it says a lot about him. He's sneaky athletic, as they say."

Nov 15, 2023; Portland, Oregon, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) reacts to a three point play by teammate guard Max Strus (1) during the second half against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center / Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Hilariously enough, Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff even caught himself accidentally saying "surprisingly" before acknowledging it wasn’t out of the norm to see.

“When he drives to the basket, he’s looking to finish,” Bickerstaff said with a snicker.

Bally Sports Ohio sideline reporter Serena Winters asked Strus about it after the win, to which he cracked a small smile.

“Just make a basket. I couldn’t get the ball in the basket tonight,” Strus said of what went through his head beforehand. 

“Luckily I got a foul. I don’t really get many of those.”