Cavs notes: Max Strus steps up in playoffs

CLEVELAND — Cavaliers guard James Harden marvels at how hard teammate Max Strus plays. "He's a dog," he said. "Obviously, he makes shots. But he impacts the game in other ways." Strus scored 24 points off the bench for Cleveland on Saturday in its 126-113 victory over the Toronto Raptors in Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. The Cavs swingman was sidelined for seven months after suffering a Jones fracture on his left foot. He missed the first 67 games of the regular season. "Give him credit," Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell said. "He never wavered. He put the work in. He had no doubt he'd come back and make an impact. He's still getting better. "I've learned never to doubt that man." Strus connected on 8-for-10 shots from the field, 4-for-6 from the 3-point line. It resulted in his career high in the postseason. "He loves being in high-pressure situations," Mitchell said. Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said Strus' comeback makes for a great story. "We needed his gravity today," he said. "He turned the game for us. That gave us separation." FanDuel extinct FanDuel Sports Network will no longer be broadcasting the Cavaliers games for the postseason and in the future. Sideline reporter Serena Winters will switch over to the team's radio network for the playoffs. She has been with FanDuel since 2021, and this season served as pre- and postgame host for road games on FanDuel. The Cavs have been broadcast on FanDuel and previously on Bally Sports and Fox Sports Ohio for more than 20 years. The Cavs have yet to announce their new regional home, even though some believe Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group will step in. The dilemma for the playoffs is that the Cavs playoff games won't be carried locally. They'll all be on national networks or streaming services. Game 1 was aired on Amazon Prime, with the second game Monday on Peacock and Game 3 Thursday back on Prime. Game 4 is on ESPN. The NBA has yet to announce the rest of the series. Winters will join radio play-by-play man Tim Alcorn and color commentator Jim Chones, who will step down at the end of the playoffs after 26 years. Player-led teams Atkinson said the best teams are "player-led." He commended Harden and said his "input is vital to everything we do." Atkinson said Mitchell, Sam Merrill and others also hold important voices on the team. "These guys are a big help," he said. "We'll lean on these guys. We come to decisions together." Much experience A few years ago when Mitchell first arrived from Utah, the Cavs were one of the most inexperienced teams in the playoffs. Four years later, they are one of the most experienced. "You've been through it," Atkinson said. "You've got reps. Part of that is understanding roles. Every game is different. It might be your turn and it might not. Luckily, we have great character." The scout team simulated the Raptors in practice this week. "They have to be selfless," Atkinson said. Quickley sidelined Raptors point guard Immanual Quickley missed Game 1 with a strained right hamstring. Atkinson said his speed and quickness will be missed, along with his shooting. "The guy's a heck of a player," he said. "He's had a great year." Jamal Sheed will start at point guard for Toronto. Raptors coach Darko Rajakovic said Quickley has "improved." Raptors' fastbreak Rajakovic was asked whether things will slow down in the playoffs. They are known as a transition team. "Did Indiana slow down last year?" he asked. "That's what makes the NBA so interesting. So many teams play different styles." Slowing down 'The Beard' The Toronto coach said Harden has seen it all. He said they'll try to trap him, blitz him and be physical with him. "We'll use different coverages," Rajakovic said. "We'll try to keep him guessing." The Raptors' strategy didn't work in Game 1, as Harden finished with 22 points and a game-high 10 assists. Contact Bob Finnan at (440) 329-7135 or rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.