The Cleveland Cavaliers are not a fancy team with bigname stars who are likely to challenge for top honours at the end of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season.
But, even with their key players sidelined on Dec 27, they made up for what they lacked with "guts, heart and courage", according to their coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
At the American Airlines Centre, Cleveland's Caris Levert made the go-ahead three-pointer with 2min 3sec to play as the Cavaliers rallied from a 20-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 113-110.
"Guts, plain and simple," Bickerstaff said of what carried his team to victory. "It was the ability to dig down and go somewhere when things weren't going your way.
"We were struggling defensively in the first half, but collectively we went out and just found a way.
You don't do that without heart, courage and fortitude." The Mavs looked on their way to following up their Christmas victory over Phoenix, as they led by as many as 20 on the way to a 15point half-time lead.
This story is from the December 29, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
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This story is from the December 29, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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