Max Strus. Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Cavs guard Max Strus shoots lights out in first half

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 5/13/24

The Cavaliers put up a valiant effort without star guard Donovan Mitchell (left calf) in the first half on Monday.

Guard Max Strus was on fire early in Game 4 of Cleveland's second-round series against the Boston Celtics, knocking down his first five threes and finishing the first half with 15 points.

Strus set the tone on the Cavs' first possession by coming off a screen set by power forward Evan Mobley for a make from deep.

— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024

He added a second triple three minutes later off a Celtics turnover to give the Cavs an early 8-2 advantage.

Defense ➡️ Offense. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/a0ko00wxn0
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) May 13, 2024

Strus kept his hot hand in the second quarter, hitting from deep on back-to-back possessions to pull Cleveland with two, 48-46, after Boston went on an extended run to take a double-digit lead.

Max Strus drills his 4th triple to cap a 10-2 Cavs' run!

Celtics-Cavs | Game 4 on TNT pic.twitter.com/8TmEbFv6gP
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024

STRUS from downtown AGAIN

He's 5-for-5 from 3 midway through the 2nd quarter on TNT! https://t.co/rQ9I9rOn2A pic.twitter.com/4eFlc6fKcS
— NBA (@NBA) May 13, 2024

Strus matched a career playoff-high for threes in a game with his scintillating first half. He's within range of his playoff-high in points (20) and will need much more than that for the Cavs to pull even in the best-of-seven series.

The Cavaliers announced earlier on Monday that star guard Donovan Mitchell would miss Game 4 due to a calf injury. During the playoffs, he's led Cleveland in scoring (29.6 points per game) as the supporting cast has largely struggled.

At the half, the Celtics hold a 62-57 lead.

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