Lindholm's Late Steals Seal 99-95 Mavericks Victory Over Lions
Mavericks Rally Behind Lindholm's Defense, Edge Lions in Defensive Thriller
MIAMI – The Miami Mavericks clinched a hard-fought 99-95 victory over the visiting London Lions tonight at the Arena, a crucial win that saw their defense rise to the occasion in the game’s pivotal moments. Trailing for much of the second half, Miami found a spark from Viktor Lindholm’s timely steals and clutch free throws to secure the win in a back-and-forth affair.
The Lions came out firing, with Leo O’Connell leading the charge, pouring in a game-high 30 points. London’s sharp shooting from beyond the arc, particularly from O’Connell and Astrid Novak (16 points), gave them a slim lead as the game entered its final quarter. However, the Mavericks, who struggled with their field goal percentage for much of the night, relied on grit and a relentless defensive effort.
Elara Dixon was a force for Miami, finishing with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, providing consistent offensive punch. The game remained tight until the closing minutes. With the Mavericks clinging to a two-point lead, Viktor Lindholm, who had been a defensive menace all night with a game-high 4 steals, stripped O’Connell twice in quick succession, leading to crucial possessions. Lindholm then calmly sank four consecutive free throws in the final minute to ice the game.
“That was a total team effort,” said Mavericks Head Coach Anya Sharma. “London is a tough opponent, and O’Connell was incredible. But our guys dug deep, especially on the defensive end in the fourth. Viktor was the backbone of that effort.”
Lindholm, who finished with 13 points and 4 assists to complement his defensive heroics, added, “We knew we had to lock in. It’s about trusting your teammates and making the plays when they matter most. Tonight, we did that.”
Key Notes:
- Leo O’Connell led all scorers with 30 points for the London Lions.
- Viktor Lindholm’s 4 steals were a game-high and crucial in the Mavericks’ late-game surge.
- Miami Mavericks secured the win despite a 37.6% field goal percentage.
- The Mavericks converted 84.6% of their free throws (22/26), a key factor in closing out the game.
- London Lions dished out 29 assists to just 9 turnovers, showcasing excellent ball movement.