The Cleveland Cavaliers’ undefeated streak is alive and well.
Donovan Mitchell and the Cavaliers pulled ahead in the fourth quarter Monday night at the United Center to beat the Chicago Bulls 119-113. That led them to a perfect 12-0 record on the season.
The Cavaliers, who are the last undefeated team standing in the NBA this season, are now just the seventh team to start 12-0 or better in league history. It’s already the best start in franchise history and the best start to a season since the Golden State Warriors opened the 2015-16 campaign with 24 consecutive wins. The Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, beat the Warriors in the NBA Finals that season.
Mitchell came out in the first half, which is what kept Cleveland even with the Bulls after all five starters scored in double figures in the first 24 minutes. Mitchell scored 25 points in the first half with five 3-pointers and hit a wild 360-degree layup while flying down the middle of the lane.
Although the Bulls pulled ahead in the third quarter and jumped out to a nine-point lead after a pair of Ayo Dosunmu free throws late in the period, the Cavaliers went on a quick 11-2 run to tie the game almost immediately. It limited Chicago to just two field goals, easy floaters by Dalen Terry and Josh Giddey, also in the final six minutes of the quarter. That led Cleveland to a 3-point lead entering the fourth quarter.
While the Bulls tied the game again midway through the quarter on Zach LaVine’s mid-range jumper, the Cavaliers caught fire immediately. Evan Mobley threw down an easy alley-oop and then Donovan Mitchell scored a fastbreak layup off a Ty Jerome steal just seconds later. That quickly turned into a 9-2 run, which was enough to keep the Cavaliers one step ahead the rest of the way and allow them to close out the six-point victory.
Mitchell finished with 36 points and eight rebounds, and was 7 of 16 from behind the arc. Darius Garland added 17 points and five assists, and Evan Mobley finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points and six rebounds. Nikola Vucevic finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, and Coby White added 20 points with five 3-pointers. The Bulls also had 20 turnovers as a team, which the Cavaliers turned into 35 points.
The Cavaliers will face the Philadelphia 76ers next Wednesday. A win there would match the longest winning streak in team history.
This post will be updated with more information soon.
