Overview
- Strus made his season debut on March 15 in Cleveland’s 130-120 loss to the Mavericks, entering to a standing ovation and hitting a three on his first possession.
- He finished with 24 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 6-of-7 from deep, and added eight rebounds, showcasing the movement and energy the Cavs have missed.
- Coach Kenny Atkinson called the performance “pretty amazing” after seven months out and indicated Strus’ minutes will ramp up over the remaining regular-season games.
- Strus had surgery in August for a left foot Jones fracture, with a return initially targeted around Christmas before the timeline extended by roughly three months.
- He grew emotional postgame, saying, “I worked my ass off… It was a long road,” while emphasizing the loss outweighed his individual night.