Max Strus Returns with 24-Point Explosion in Season Debut

After a 67-game absence due to a left foot Jones fracture, Max Strus returned to the court with a dominant 24-point performance against the Mavericks. Shooting 6-7 from three-point range in 20 minutes, he became the first player since 1997-98 to score 15+ points in the first half of a debut after missing 60+ games. Strus expressed deep gratitude for his return, crediting his recovery to hard work and a new, positive perspective after a grueling seven-month rehabilitation process.