Undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers playing their way into NBA history books
Kenny Atkinson’s team will be looking for an 11th straight win in the 2024-25 season on Monday as they face Chicago Bulls.
The 2023-24 Cleveland Cavaliers were solid rather than spectacular and after a fourth place Eastern Conference finish in the regular season, were soundly beaten by eventual champions Boston in the conference semifinals (4-1).
Things are different this season however for ‘The Land’ with the team the hottest side in NBA when it comes to offense scoring 122.7 points per 100 possession and after ten games of the new season, Kenny Atkinson’s team remain unbeaten ahead of Monday’s visit to the Chicago Bulls.
12/82.
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Saturday’s win against the Brooklyn Nets also showed a dogged determination from the team after a terrible third quarter where they only managed 13 points. A big late push saw the Cavs maintain their winning streak as they bagged 35 final quarter points with a double-double from Evan Mobley (23 points, 16 rebounds) and big scoring from Donovan Mitchell (22 points) and Darius Garland (20) as an 82-68 deficit with 1:03 left in the third became a 105-100 victory.
“Normally, this is 11 games in, you’re not thinking about a streak,” Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said. “But tonight, you’re like, man, ‘I don’t want it to end that this way.’ ... We’re trying to win every game, but it’s kind of weirdly in the back of your mind when you’re out there competing, like, ‘man, we got to keep this thing going.’ "
Cleveland have won seven of the past eight meetings against Chicago, but the Bulls lead the all-time series 133-101.
One eye on the record
The last time an NBA team opened the season 11-0 was the 2015-2016 Golden State Warriors with the team from the Pacific coast eventually losing to a Cleveland Cavaliers team that included Lebron James at the time.
As things stand the Cavs are tied in seventh place with the best ever opening runs in any NBA season and will hope to maintain this run with games coming up against: Chicago (11th), away to Philly (13th) and another test against the Bulls but this time at home on 15 November.