CLEVLEAND — The Cavaliers ran up the score on the undermanned Mavericks. Cleveland scored 91 points — matching the third most in a first half in NBA history — on Sunday while opening a 45-point lead on Dallas, which was playing its first game since trading superstar Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Cleveland shot 59% on 3-pointers (26-for-44), led by nine from Sam Merrill, who scored a game-high 27 points. With virtually no frontcourt opposition, Evan Mobley tallied 22 points with 11 rebounds and four blocks. Darius Garland finished with 17 points and 10 assists. Eight Cavaliers scored in double figures.

Whatcha gonna do when the Cavaliers run wild on you? With bronzed WWE legend Hulk Hogan sitting courtside in a sleeveless t shirt and red signature bandana, Cleveland clobbered the woefully undermanned Dallas Mavericks,

So the Mavs took on the Cavaliers, who own the best record in the East, without multiple starters and dealing with the emotional aftershocks of the transaction. They very clearly felt it, as the team set a new franchise record for worst first quarter performance in the organization's history.

Evan Mobley scored 22 points and Cleveland set a franchise record with 91 in the first half as the Cavaliers romped to a 144-101 win on Sunday over Dallas just hours after the Mavericks traded superstar Luka Doncic to the Lakers for Anthony Davis.

Dallas Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison said, “I believe that defense wins championships,” when speaking on the trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Anthony Davis.